German carmaker BMW on Thursday launched its iconic Mini Cooper in India, the latest luxury auto maker to expand in one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets.

BMW established a presence in the country in 2006 and has since seen steady growth in sales in India where growing affluence is producing a new upper class with expensive tastes.

German carmaker Audi makes special horns for its vehicles sold in India where local drivers hoot so much as they fight their way through chaotic traffic, the firm’s country director has revealed.

“Obviously for India, the horn is a category in itself,” Michael Perschke, director at Audi India, told Monday’s Mint newspaper.

“You take a European horn and it will be gone in a week or two. With the amount of honking in Mumbai, we do on a daily basis what an average German does on an annual basis.”

Royal Salute, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, marked its third year as title sponsor of the Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup.

As one of the most prestigious polo events, the largest and most international crowd ever watched the impressive Central Academy team win the 10-goal tournament.

The annual New Year’s Eve Procession, lead by His Highness the Maharaja of Jodhpur, marked the end of the five-day event.

‘Incredible’ India has been voted the world’s leading destination at this year’s World Travel Awards ceremony, held January 11 in Qatar.

India saw off competition from London, New York, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney to take the award, the most prestigious handed out at the event.

Etihad Airways was judged world’s leading airline, seeing off a host of competitors including KLM, British Aiways, Singapore Airlines, Qatar and Virgin Atlantic.

The annual Chanel Metier D’Arts premiere took place in the Galerie Courbe at Paris’s Grand Palais Tuesday December 6 with an India-themed luxury show.

Models, adorned with accessories including head-jewellery and turbans – also for men – walked the epic runway sporting the 2012 pre-fall collection.

Guests sat at banquet tables, which doubled as a runway, complete with chandeliers, opulent candlesticks – and a feast fit for a Maharaja.

LVMH Group’s yacht-building firm Princess has announced formal entry into India and is aiming to sell up to five luxury boats in the next year.

Smallest of these yachts cost INR40million ($790,000) while at the higher end, the price can go up to INR300million ($6,000,000).

“We will sell four to five yachts in the next 12 months,” Sharad Kachalia, a director at Navnit Marine, Princess International’s distributor for the country.