APAC

Hong Kong – September 19, 2026 -- TECNO has launched the POVA 8 Pro 5G Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition, a co-branded smartphone that translates the Italian lifestyle brand's mechanical design heritage into a mobile device.

The phone reimagines Lamborghini's mechanical design cues in a black-and-red colorway

The device uses black as its dominant tone with red as an accent, built around what TECNO calls the 'Pulse Line' at the center of the rear panel, meant to evoke energy and movement. Surrounding it is a 'Signature Shield' pattern drawing on Tonino Lamborghini's shield emblem and mechanical geometry, with a metallic Tonino Lamborghini logo placed at the lower-right corner.

Hong Kong – September 17, 2026 -- Luxury Group by Marriott International and Sotheby's have expanded their global partnership into Asia Pacific for the first time, launching a new masterclass series called "The Art of Knowing." The program combines short digital videos with exclusive in-person events, giving hotel guests closer access to rare craftsmanship, collecting, and connoisseurship.

The initiative follows last year's debut of private tours at Sotheby's Maison during Sotheby's Hong Kong's Luxury Week.

Hong Kong – September 08, 2026 -- TECNO has launched the POVA 8 Pro 5G Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition, a smartphone built through a multi-year partnership with the Italian brand first announced in March. The device pairs a black-and-red design language with a dual-chipset performance setup and Sony-engineered camera hardware.

Singapore – September 07, 2026 -- Travel booking platform Trip.com reports that custom tour bookings surged over 600% year-on-year globally, as travelers increasingly seek fully tailored itineraries over standard packages.

The company's data shows global searches for first and business class flights climbed 99% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while 5-star hotel searches rose 57% over the same period. The strongest demand for custom tours is coming from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore.

Concerts and live events are driving cross-border bookings

According to Trip.com Group data, 63% of Asia Pacific travelers have already crossed borders to attend a concert, and 66% say they would be willing to do so. In response, the company launched packages bundling concert tickets, accommodation, transport and local attractions, which saw triple-digit growth in 2025.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – January 1, 2026 – iQIYI says its first global offline entertainment park, iQIYI LAND, will open in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province on February 8, 2026, bringing the platform’s Chinese film-and-TV stories into a highly interactive indoor theme-park experience.

A New Kind of Indoor Theme Park for Families and Travelers

iQIYI describes iQIYI LAND Yangzhou as a next-generation indoor theme park built around immersive entertainment and recognizable Chinese IP. Instead of a traditional ride-first model, the park is positioned as a place where visitors step into story worlds through technology, live interactions, and recreated sets. For families planning a holiday outing or travelers looking for something beyond the usual sightseeing, the promise is an experience that feels like entering a show’s universe rather than just watching it.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 26, 2025 – Lexus is expanding its dedicated battery-electric RZ lineup with a special-edition RZ 600e “F SPORT Performance,” aiming for a sharper, more emotionally charged kind of EV driving when it arrives at Lexus dealerships across Japan on March 2, 2026.

A Special Edition That’s Meant To Feel Alive

Some electric cars impress you on paper, but leave you a little emotionally untouched once you’re behind the wheel. Lexus is clearly trying to push against that with the Special Edition RZ 600e “F SPORT Performance,” built to deepen the “Always On” idea—meaning the car should feel responsive and connected whether you’re cruising through a city evening or carving along a winding stretch of road.

"Always On"

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 19, 2025 – Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda—known affectionately as “Aki-chan”—just did something you don’t see every day: he walked into a high school classroom in Japan and taught a special lesson about cars, life, and what he hopes the next generation carries forward.

A New Kind of School Day in Ehime

The setting wasn’t a lecture hall or a boardroom. It was FC Imabari High School Satoyama in Ehime Prefecture, a private school that opened in April 2024 and is intentionally built around the idea that learning shouldn’t stay trapped inside a classroom.

One of the school’s defining features is a curriculum that blends studies with real-world projects, including corporate activities and engagement with the local community. In other words: students don’t just learn about life—they practice it, in public.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 10, 2025 – In a world where city life feels permanently set to fast-forward, the LEPAS L8 Exquisite Space leans hard in the opposite direction, transforming the car interior into a calming emotional sanctuary where Elegant Life means breathing out, slowing down and genuinely enjoying the moment.

A Private Cinema on Wheels for Your “Me-Time”

The idea behind the LEPAS L8 Exquisite Space is simple and very 2025: your car shouldn’t just move you from A to B, it should move your mood too. With a few small rituals, the cabin becomes your own private cinema and cocoon. Recline the front seats fully backward, connect the projector ecosystem accessories and sync with the in-car entertainment system, and suddenly the outside world fades.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 5, 2025 – Imagine hailing a taxi in the middle of Tokyo, gliding away from the curb in near silence and realizing the car under you runs on hydrogen, not gasoline. That’s not sci-fi anymore – it’s the new reality in Japan’s capital, where hydrogen is stepping out of the lab and into everyday life, one ride and one building at a time.

Hydrogen on the streets: Crown taxis you can actually ride

On the busy streets of Tokyo, a new kind of Crown taxi has started to appear: a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) powered by hydrogen. These taxis are part of a public-private project launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in September 2025 to push hydrogen from “future promise” to “practical option.”