Originally opened in 1929, the Arizona Biltmore is known as the ‘Jewel of the Desert’ to Phoenix locals. Situated on 39 pristine acres dotted with palm trees and mountains, the storied hotel has offered respite to celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, and politicians including every US president from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush. The iconic grand dame Arizona recently underwent an extensive renovation that restored its historic architecture and breathed fresh life into its decor. Guest rooms (currently from $329 per night) were decorated with mist-colored wall coverings, bronze-and-gold metal accents, and geometric shapes. Fifteen poolside caba nas were equipped with bathrooms and flat-screen televisions. The Mystery Room—a Prohibition-era speakeasy that now functions as a pop-up bar and event space—received bold geometric patterns and designs that harken back to the original Frank Lloyd Wright style. This year, the $30 million renovation will introduce a revamped hotel lobby, luxury villas, and suites, ensuring the Biltmore will retain its rightful place as Arizona’s glittering gem.

Promised to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, The Bugatti Chiron will have quite an act to follow, considering that the Veyron was one of the fastest automobiles ever made. A magazine out of the Czech Republic claims to have some preliminary details on the much awaited supercar, which it ran on Facebook with the holiday greetings the company distributed via email. Citing information it claims to have received from a customer presentation, ProDriver magazine reports that the Chiron will top out at 467 kilometers per hour –over 290 miles per hour, hitting 62 along the way in just 2.2 seconds. Its speedometer is said to run all the way up to 500 km/h. And to get there, the engineers in Molsheim are tipped to have squeezed 1,500 horsepower and an equal number of newton-meters of torque (1,106 lb-ft) into the two-seat supercar. Those figures are expected to come in part thanks to a pair of electric turbochargers (and another couple of conventional ones) bolted to the 8.0-liter W16 engine. Of course none of that will come cheap, with a price tag said to start at a cool 2 million euros ($2.17m). Bugatti is tipped to make only 100 examples every year for the next five. Of those, 130 units have reportedly already been spoken for, sight unseen.

The historic 1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Competition Roadster is the ultimate collector’s delight for the luxury car aficionado. H&H Classics will be bringing one with them to the London Classic Car Show in February to auction off and are expecting it to sell for up to $1.2 million.  According to the auction house, this specific E-Type 9VPD “returned to the track for the July 2005 Silverstone Classic Festival. In July 2006, it finished 4th at the Le Mans Classic (behind two Ford GT40s and a Cobra) [and then] won its class during the Spa [Six] Hours that same year with Richard Attwood joining Steve Markey and Radical ace Austin Kinsella behind the wheel.” Featuring Opalescent Dark Blue livery, the car has been driven by the likes of Emanuele Pirro, Marc Gene and Tony Jardine. “It was the first Jaguar home during the Legends race which preceded the 2007 Le Mans 24 hours and paid tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Coventry marque’s famous 1957 victory,” elaborated H&H Classics, adding that its Goodwood Revival debut was the same year, with Rauno Aaltonen and Steve Markey driving. The London Classic Car Show runs February 18-21.

The Detroit Auto Show handed out their annual awards to a few lucky marques for making some pretty great cars, including the Honda Civic earning the 2016 North American Car award and the North American Truck/Utility of the Year title going to the Volvo XC90. Now in its 23rd year, the winners were voted on by 53 independent auto journalists from a variety of media outlets from Canada and the United States, which helps ensure that the decision is fair and weighed evenly. According to the auto show, the panelists look for “vehicles [that] are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.” The three cars that missed out on the major car award were the Chevrolet Malibu, the Honda Civic and the Mazda MX-5 Miata, while the truck finalists were the Honda Pilot, Nissan Titan XD and the Volvo XC90.

The new Mini John Cooper Works Convertible—performance-tuned versions of the Mini—has been unveiled ahead of its official debut at the New York motor show in March and will go on sale in the UK in March, priced from £26,630. The Mini Convertible JCW gets the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the Cooper S but is tuned to deliver 228bhp of power as against the standard 189bhp. The power figures are about 20bhp more than the outgoing JCW Mini Convertible. With 320Nm of torque available, the more than 1.3-tonne car is propelled to 100kmph in 6.6 seconds with the manual gearbox transmitting power to the front wheels. It also gets a six-speed automatic option which helps shave 0.1 seconds off the 0-100 sprint. Not only does it get more power, the JCW Mini looks meaner too. With a slightly bigger grille, a large bonnet scoop and lightweight alloy wheels, it looks aggressive. The JCW gets LED headlamps and tail lights along with the revered JCW badging. You will also have the option to buy it in the Rebel Green hue available exclusively with the Works Mini. While Mini has been in India for a few years now, we haven’t had a taste of the JCWs yet. And from the looks of it, getting this one to grace the Indian soil certainly seems like a daydream.

Blancpain’s Lovable Ladybird collection is a delicate, limited-edition timepiece for the season of romance. The manufacturer from Le Brassus has had this iconic collection in its Women collection since 1956—the world’s smallest round watch at the time of its launch. Immediately recognisable by its delightfully curved diminutive size, the special version for the day of love has a mother-of-pearl dial adorned with brilliant-cut diamonds. A mother-of-pearl marquetry heart, sparkling with diamonds and rubies on its upper part, sets the perfect finishing touch to the watch face. The 21.5 mm-diameter white gold case of this Ladybird Saint Valentine’s Day 2016 model is lit up by a bezel set with more than 0.5 carats of diamonds. Beating at the heart of this new two-hand model is the 15.7 mm-diameter self-winding 6150 movement: one of the smallest in the world and now equipped with a silicon balance-spring. A removable white gold charm featuring a ruby heart pierced by a diamond arrow enhances the watch at 6 o’clock. The Ladybird Saint Valentine’s Day 2016, enhanced by a calfskin strap, is issued in an engraved and numbered 99-piece limited edition.

To perfectly complement their fine motorcycle models for ardent bikers, British company Triumph Motorcycle has introduced two uber smart jackets bikers cannot miss. Not just stylish and rugged, but also functional, these jackets offer a safe and smooth riding experience. The first is the Custom Jacket inspired by the Custom Scene bike. Crafted in matte black buffalo leather, it comes in a black print with monochrome patches to the upper arm and chest. With an adjustable hem, venting at the chest and back and removable lining, this is ideal for long distance rides. The other jacket is made of all-season high grade leather. The jacket also features a TFL heat reflective coating with large ventilation panels and is the recommended version for a daily ride.

Lamborghini had announced that they would build a car to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Ferruccio Lamborghini. Supposed to be the LP770-4, Lamborghini has divulged no details about this car except for the 1.64 million GBP price tag (about Rs 15crore). But if you are a Lamborghini connoisseur this is certainly your coveted trophy. No wonder that the only 40 units to be produced have been sold out already. If we are to believe what Lamborghini has said, this will be an all-out attempt by their engineers to build a car that is futuristic not only in terms of looks but technology too. The previous special editions like the Veneno, the Reventon and the Sesto Elemento are a testimony to what Lamborghini can achieve. The car, not yet named officially, will get the 6.5-litre V12 from the Aventador tuned to churn out more power than the current 690bhp. Built around a carbon-fibre tub chassis, the Centenario – as some call it, will be available in two body styles – the coupe and the convertible, 20 units apiece. The car will be showcased at the Geneva Auto Show, later this year. 2016 also marks the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini’s first sportscar, the Miura.

This certainly is sinister and whimsical, but for the gothically-inclined billionaire with a dark sense of humour, this Skull Armchair embellished with solid gold would be the perfect accessory. French artist Harold Sangouard, also known as Harow, is the ‘mastermind’ behind it. It is the ideal opulence-enhancing quotient, for the study or plush private lair of the one who has it all. The armchair is quite the instrument for, as Harow succinctly puts it, ‘establishing your domain.’ Made from steel and finished with a black glossy paint, the Skull Chair’s cushions and upholstery are made from exquisite black velvet. For those looking at something more, this statement-of-power is also available in a 24 carat gold variant. The chair even has floral detailing on the forehead and the head of the skull. Crafted in Paris, this 48kg chair is priced at $500,000 (approx. Rs 3 crores) and can be purchased via Harow.fr.

A recent study published by Baghunter concludes that Birkin bags are a better investment than gold or the stock market. Researchers showed that in the Birkin’s 35 year history, the value of the bag has increased by more than 500 percent, with an annual increase of 14.2 percent. That’s a better rate of return than the S&P 500, which averaged at 11.66 percent, or gold, which averaged at just 1.6 percent each year. The Hermès accessory has managed to maintain its value throughout recessions and economic downturns due in no small part its exclusivity: last year a Birkin was sold for a record-breaking price of $222,000.  The waiting list can be years long, and you have to be close with someone in-the-know just to get on that list. The luxury resale market for Birkins is at all all-time high, proving that just because you can afford a Birkin doesn’t mean you can easily get your hands on one. Unlike gold or the stock market that can rise or fall over the course of the year, Birkin bags have never depreciated in value. Baghunter estimates that in the next 10 years the bag will double in value. This would probably be the most fashion-friendly part of your investment portfolio.