First seen as a concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid supercar that will enter production at the end of September 2013.

The new 918 Spyder is built around a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque and features fully adaptive aerodynamics and an adaptive rear-axle steering.

Porsche has announced that the production version will feature an enlarged 4.6-liter V-8 engine pumping out close to 570 horsepower.

For the past 11 years, Mini has been one of the major sponsors of the European Life Ball to support HIV/AIDS research.

Part of that sponsorship has been the sale of a one-of-a-kind special-edition car designed by some of the biggest names in fashion.

This year, Mini had commissioned Italian Vogue’s chief editor Franca Sozzani to customize the new Mini Roadster. The model was presented at the 20th annual Life Ball event in Vienna and was auctioned to raise €54,000 for AIDS charity.

Louis Vuitton, the French maker of laminated canvas handbags, was named the world’s most valuable luxury brand for a seventh consecutive year.

The brand, owned by LVMH, is worth $25.9 billion, a 7 percent increase from 2011, according to Millward Brown Optimor’s 2012 BrandZ study.

Hermes, in which LVMH owns a stake, rose to second place with a value of $19.1 billion, up 61 percent on last year. Rolex, the closely-held Swiss watch brand, was ranked third at $7.17 billion, a 36 percent gain.

In a sign of the wine times, one of the world’s most authoritative wine publications, Decanter, said it plans to launch a Chinese version of its website.

The move comes after another top wine publication, described as the wine bible for the French, La Revue du Vin de France, launched a Chinese version of its magazine last year.

Marking The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Jaeger-LeCoultre presented a 101 jewellery timepiece to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, homage to the piece she wore at the time of Her Coronation 60 years ago.

French luxury crystal glassmaker Baccarat is hoping to revolutionise the experience of drinking wine with a new design that promises to settle the age-old argument between alcohol and the grape.

The tulip-shaped glass, with a wide flat base and a vertical “chimney”, will prevent the alcohol from overpowering the aroma of wine when the glass is swirled.