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News

Kia K4 Hatchback Lands in the U.S., Manual Transmission Still a Maybe

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Kia has officially brought the K4 Hatchback to U.S. shores, and it’s already hitting dealer lots nationwide. The car’s arrival fills a gap for buyers who want something more practical and versatile than the K4 sedan—but there are a few caveats. For starters, the new hatchback is strictly front-wheel drive, offered only in automatic, and not all of the sedan’s trims will make the jump across the Atlantic.

At a press event in Los Angeles, a Kia representative addressed the big question on enthusiasts’ minds: will the K4 Hatchback ever get a manual transmission in the U.S.?

“We don’t have any plans for a manual transmission right now, but the platform is perfectly capable of accepting one,” the spokesperson said. “We do offer a manual in other markets. If we find that there’s demand in our market for a manual transmission and it makes business sense, it’s technically possible.”

In other words, the stick-shift faithful shouldn’t lose hope just yet. Kia is clearly keeping the door open, suggesting that if U.S. buyers voice enough interest, a manual K4 could arrive down the road. Overseas, manual-equipped K4 models are already part of the lineup, offering a more engaging driving experience that American buyers currently miss out on.

While at the event, the discussion turned to the K4 Sportswagon. Recently unveiled overseas, the wagon offers multiple engines and even a manual option in select markets. Unfortunately for U.S. buyers, the Sportswagon is expected to remain a European exclusive for now, where demand for wagons still thrives. That leaves the hatchback as the only alternative for stateside shoppers seeking added cargo versatility.

For now, the U.S. K4 Hatchback is available in three trims, all paired with an automatic transmission. While the architecture can support a manual in the future, there’s no plan to introduce one—or the Sportswagon—at the moment. Kia’s strategy seems to hinge entirely on market reception: the better the hatchback sells, the more likely we could see a manual—or even a wagon—join the lineup.

For those in the market for a compact hatch with sleek styling and practical dimensions, the K4 Hatchback arrives as a solid choice—but if you’re a gearhead longing for a stick, you may have to wait and make some noise.

Source: Kia

News

Ferrari Prices Go Supersonic as Phil Bachman Collection Shatters Records

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The market for modern Ferraris has officially lost its mind—and it did so loudly this past weekend.

When the late Phil Bachman’s Ferrari collection crossed the Mecum Auctions block, it didn’t just perform well; it detonated expectations. Records that once felt aspirational were obliterated, replaced by numbers that would have sounded like typos even two years ago. The headline-grabber was a Ferrari Enzo finished in Giallo Modena that sold for an astonishing $17.875 million, nearly tripling the previous Enzo record of just over $6 million set in 2023. If there was any lingering doubt that the collector-car boom has entered a new phase, this sale erased it.

Yes, all Enzos are special—Ferrari built just 400 between 2002 and 2004—but Bachman’s example checks just about every box collectors obsess over. For starters, it’s barely been driven, showing only 649 miles. It’s also one of 127 U.S.-market cars and one of only 36 finished in Giallo Modena, a color that looks like it was mixed specifically to stop traffic and drain bank accounts. Add in a history of concours awards and you’re already deep into unicorn territory.

But what really separates this Enzo from the rest is the factory customization. Ferrari rarely strayed far from conservative interior specs on Enzos, yet this one left Maranello with a bold two-tone Rosso-and-Giallo interior. It’s dramatic, unmistakable, and about as subtle as a V-12 at redline. In a world where collectors pay dearly for originality, this car’s bespoke spec somehow makes it even more desirable.

The Enzo wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Bachman’s Ferrari 288 GTO sold for $8.525 million, nearly doubling the previous record for the model and reinforcing its position as the thinking collector’s Ferrari. An ultra-low-mileage F40 with just 458 miles on the odometer brought $6.6 million, while a red F50 surged to $12.21 million, yet another record. Taken together, Ferrari’s holy trinity of analog supercars just rewrote its own price guide in a single afternoon.

Modern halo cars weren’t immune to the frenzy, either. A LaFerrari Coupe sold for $6.71 million, while the open-top LaFerrari Aperta rocketed to $11 million, underscoring how scarcity—and a removable roof—still move markets. Elsewhere, a 599 GTO stunned observers at $3.96 million, a figure that would have sounded implausible not long ago. Even relatively recent specials got their moment: a 430 Scuderia Spider 16M reached $1.98 million, and a 360 Challenge Stradale cleared $1.155 million.

With numbers this large, speculation was inevitable. Mecum Auctions noted that proceeds from the sale would benefit The Phil and Martha Bachman Foundation, prompting some to wonder whether charitable giving helped inflate the results—particularly the Enzo’s eye-watering final price. But the reality appears far more straightforward.

According to reports circulating online, including a post on Reddit, Dana Mecum purchased the entire Bachman collection from the family last year, with a portion of that transaction allocated to the foundation at that time. If that’s accurate, any tax benefits would have applied to Mecum, not the buyers. The auction itself was a standard commercial sale. Despite the foundation’s name appearing in the narrative, bidders weren’t donating to charity—they were buying cars from Mecum Auctions, plain and simple.

Which makes the results even more telling. This wasn’t generosity driving prices; it was demand. Deep-pocketed collectors are clearly recalibrating what the very best Ferraris are worth, and they’re doing it in real time, paddle in hand. The Bachman collection didn’t just set records—it reset the conversation.

If this weekend proved anything, it’s that Ferrari’s most significant road cars have crossed into a new financial stratosphere. The only question now is whether these numbers represent a peak—or just another waypoint on the climb.

Source: Mecum Auctions

NEW CARS

Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Hybrid Brings Big Power—and Bigger Teasing—to Europe

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Toyota has finally decided to let a few more people taste the forbidden fruit. The full-strength Land Cruiser 300 Hybrid—previously a Middle East exclusive—is heading to select Eastern European markets starting January 2026. Emphasis on select, because if you’re in Western Europe or North America, you’re still locked out of Toyota’s most serious SUV. Over here, the company insists you’ll be just fine with a Lexus LX or the smaller Land Cruiser 250. Thanks, Toyota.

Still, for those lucky markets getting the real deal, this isn’t just another compliance hybrid. The Land Cruiser 300 Hybrid is now the most powerful production Land Cruiser ever, and it wears that crown unapologetically.

Under the hood sits a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 paired with a single electric motor sandwiched between the engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The numbers tell the story: 457 horsepower and a meaty 790 Nm (583 lb-ft) of torque sent to all four wheels. Toyota says acceleration is up to 40 percent stronger than the non-hybrid 300 Series with the twin-turbo 3.3-liter diesel, and the electric motor fills in torque gaps while sharpening throttle response.

Yes, it can even creep around in electric-only mode—up to 30 km/h (19 mph), to be precise—powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery. No, this is not Toyota’s attempt at turning the Land Cruiser into a silent city cruiser. This is about control, response, and brute force applied more intelligently.

Crucially, Toyota didn’t sacrifice the Land Cruiser’s off-road credentials in the name of electrification. The battery is sealed in a waterproof housing, preserving the full 700 mm (27.6 inches) wading depth. According to Toyota, the hybrid system has been flogged across some of the harshest environments on the planet, and the company sounds confident it hasn’t dulled the SUV’s edge.

Electric power steering is now standard, promising better precision across mixed terrain, while all the familiar off-road hardware carries over: Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, and the Multi-Terrain Monitor are all present and accounted for.

European buyers will be offered three trims—VX, ZX, and GR Sport—and every one of them sticks to a five-seat layout. If you were hoping for a third row, keep hoping. Of the trio, only the ZX gets a redesigned bodykit, but none of them feel stripped.

Even the base VX comes loaded, with 18-inch wheels, a power tailgate, full LED lighting, twin 12.3-inch displays, a 14-speaker JBL audio system, four-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, power front seats, and a 1500-watt AC outlet. That’s a starter trim only by name.

Step up to the ZX and you’ll find Adaptive Variable Suspension, a five-mode drive selector, a head-up display, a kick-activated tailgate, and a rear limited-slip differential. Then there’s the GR Sport, which leans hard into its rugged image with unique bumpers, grille, fenders, and wheels, plus Toyota’s advanced e-KDSS system. It can decouple the anti-roll bars to maximize wheel articulation—exactly the kind of nerdy hardware Land Cruiser loyalists obsess over.

Toyota hasn’t said exactly which Eastern European countries will get the hybrid 300, nor how much it’ll cost there. For reference, pricing in the UAE starts at AED 389,900 (about $106,200), which should give you a rough idea of where expectations should land.

This also isn’t the Land Cruiser 300’s first brush with Europe. Since its 2021 debut, it’s been officially sold in markets like Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Australia is next on the list, with deliveries slated for the first half of 2026, and Japan could follow after mild updates introduced in 2025.

For everyone else, the wait—and the frustration—continues. The Land Cruiser 300 Hybrid proves Toyota knows exactly how to modernize its most iconic off-roader without neutering it. The real question is why so many of us still aren’t allowed to buy one.

Source: Toyota