autoevolution
 

Aurel Niculescu

9,667  ARTICLES

Staff Writer
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Once upon a time there was a little boy that didn't know his age but dreamed of reaching high in the sky alongside the absolute best aviators. He was passionate about reading books (action and Sci-Fi), grew up with many great authors and soon discovered the mirage of cinema.

There he understood anything is possible if you work hard and passionately strive to follow your imagination. This is how at the age of 16 he managed to fulfill the first dream – flying alone in a glider plane. He was no Tom Cruise, of course, so young adulthood brought him back to reality.

With every kick in the familiar *utt comes a chance to step forward, so a seemingly unimportant ad in one of his favorite automotive magazines brought a dilemma - follow through with the current job or dare to achieve greatness by deploying (previously) unknown literary skills.

Since 2006, he’s been perfecting them at Automondial, Supercar, Cox, Autoshow, Autopro, Auto Motor & Sport, and more magazines plus their online versions. After driving some of the best and worst cars in Europe and around the world, he’s part of the autoevolution team, where he aims to develop his best-ever form.
807-HP Hellcat Redeye-Swapped 1971 Ford F-100 Bumpside Is a Ride to Be Scared Off!
807-HP Hellcat Redeye-Swapped 1971 Ford F-100 Bumpside Is a Ride to Be Scared Off!

11 Sep 2023, 12:40 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Sometimes, life gets in the way of keeping tabs on folks, and you almost forget about them – but then something really nice or unique happens, and you quickly reconnect. That's how I feel about Solomon Lunger, the pleasant and kno...

 
The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Heavy Duty Isn't Coming Anytime Soon, Unfortunately
The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Heavy Duty Isn't Coming Anytime Soon, Unfortunately

11 Sep 2023, 10:26 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The Japanese automaker is struggling to recapture the lead in the North American region as General Motors (again) proves a much tougher nut to track than anticipated initially. And their way of accomplishing the feat is simple – a tidal wave ...

 
Redesigned 2024 Ford F-150 Shows 4 Trims in All Their Glory, Albeit Only Unofficially
Redesigned 2024 Ford F-150 Shows 4 Trims in All Their Glory, Albeit Only Unofficially

11 Sep 2023, 09:06 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The North American International Auto Show's – or Detroit Auto Show's 2023 edition is just around the corner, as the event has recently moved to an autumn slot. This year, it will occur between September 13 and 24, with many automak...

 
Virtual Chevy Camaro ZL1 Coupe Utility Proves That Love for the El Camino Will Never Fade
Virtual Chevy Camaro ZL1 Coupe Utility Proves That Love for the El Camino Will Never Fade

11 Sep 2023, 07:07 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Although crossovers currently rule the world, pickup trucks aren't far behind due to their combination of strength and sense of adventure. Also, they come in many shapes and sizes, so it's easy to find the perfect fit for everyone. Or not...

 
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime Drags and Rolls V8 Charger 'Cop Car,' Someone Bites the Dust
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime Drags and Rolls V8 Charger 'Cop Car,' Someone Bites the Dust

11 Sep 2023, 06:21 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The good folks over at The Fast Lane Car channel on YouTube have brought an electrified family crossover to brawl with a retired V8 police vehicle, and the results are pretty surprising, frankly. According to the sales results from the ...

 
Come on, Toyota, Don't Keep the Century SUV Just for Japan, Give It to the World!
Come on, Toyota, Don't Keep the Century SUV Just for Japan, Give It to the World!

10 Sep 2023, 15:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / There were quite a lot of cool novelties across the automotive industry shown by carmakers over the past week or so, albeit none of them were more intriguing than Toyota's new Century SUV - a model with normal or sliding rear doors! I was...

 
I Drove My 2008 Ford Focus Wagon for 1,200 Miles Across Three Countries With Zero Issues
I Drove My 2008 Ford Focus Wagon for 1,200 Miles Across Three Countries With Zero Issues

9 Sep 2023, 20:34 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / This summer, the road trip we take each year with the family hit a major milestone - Greece. And it was time to meet the Greek Gods of Mount Olympus, albeit in tree and index plate form – as they were on show in a little place called Olympic ...

 
All-New, Third-Gen Nissan Xterra Looks Quirky Enough to Scare the Ford Bronco Sport
All-New, Third-Gen Nissan Xterra Looks Quirky Enough to Scare the Ford Bronco Sport

9 Sep 2023, 01:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Since crossovers, SUVs, and trucks occupy every space left barren by the disappearance of a sedan, sports cars, or minivan, automakers will soon need reinforcements to keep up the pace. Some of them are already trying to occupy every niche &...

 
2027 Ferrari Positano and 2027 Porsche 970e Seem Digitally Ready for Lambo Revuelto Brawls
2027 Ferrari Positano and 2027 Porsche 970e Seem Digitally Ready for Lambo Revuelto Brawls

8 Sep 2023, 22:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The Prancing Horse automaker is always keeping the headlines somehow. Just recently, we heard the hilarious rumor – confirmed by Adam Driver himself – that for insurance purposes, he didn't get the chance to drive the Ferrari cars ...

 
Hypothetical Volvo EX60 Presents Its Luxury EV Crossover Goodies From Inside-Out
Hypothetical Volvo EX60 Presents Its Luxury EV Crossover Goodies From Inside-Out

8 Sep 2023, 21:04 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The Chinese-owned Swedish automaker is going berserk in the field of high-riding EVs with the EX90 and EX30 luxury crossovers, and an electric Volvo minivan is also coming before the end of the year. Now, far from us to suggest that the Swed...

 
BMW Neue Klasse Triggers Visions of Family Expansion With SUV and Touring Versions
BMW Neue Klasse Triggers Visions of Family Expansion With SUV and Touring Versions

8 Sep 2023, 09:42 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Some will say it's just a gimmick to attract even more hype and less controversy; others will frown at BMW's way of stripping down their styling to crucial design elements. But, truth be told, no one will be unimpressed by the new Vision ...

 
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R Unofficially Shows Its Colorful Goodies Inside-Out Ahead of Time
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R Unofficially Shows Its Colorful Goodies Inside-Out Ahead of Time

8 Sep 2023, 09:07 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Unlike during the past decades, the world-famous North American International Auto Show didn't open the automotive season in January, as the Detroit event is now rescheduled to cater to the fall's premieres. Old Continent fans are ...

 
Imagined Ford Contour ST Looks Like a Fusion Sport Bred Out of the S650 Mustang and Accord
Imagined Ford Contour ST Looks Like a Fusion Sport Bred Out of the S650 Mustang and Accord

8 Sep 2023, 07:32 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The Blue Oval company has so few passenger cars on sale in the United States that they ended up bundling them with the popular SUVs. However, the S650 Mustang at least stands tall and proud. Available from almost $31k, the seventh-generation...

 
Ford Mustang Mach 1 Drags Toyota GR Supra. Absolute Destruction Ensues, Twice
Ford Mustang Mach 1 Drags Toyota GR Supra. Absolute Destruction Ensues, Twice

8 Sep 2023, 06:54 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The S650 Ford Mustang is finally available in the build & price tool on Ford's online portal, alongside its 2023MY predecessor, and it seems that all outraged cries of disbelief in Toyota x BMW's partnership for the Z4 and GR Supra ha...

 
Nissan Teases Compact Hardbody Return for Mid-Size Frontier, Debuts September 14
Nissan Teases Compact Hardbody Return for Mid-Size Frontier, Debuts September 14

8 Sep 2023, 06:13 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Interestingly, the Japanese automaker is (apparently) returning to its origins, as the Frontier was a compact model during the D21 and D22 series. However, we don't really expect the new Nissan Frontier Hardbody grade to compete with the unibo...

 
Kia's New EV5 Feels Dangerously Cooler Than EV6. Will that Be Enough to Beat the Model Y?
Kia's New EV5 Feels Dangerously Cooler Than EV6. Will that Be Enough to Beat the Model Y?

3 Sep 2023, 15:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / While the EV6 looks like a hot hatchback on stilts, the similarly-sized EV5 is a proper crossover SUV with looks inspired by the larger EV9. That makes the two susceptible to cannibalization as Kia tries to bring down the Tesla Model Y king of EV s...

 
Rugged Yet Stylish Buick SUV Ideation Sketch Feels Like an Artsy Off-Road Painting
Rugged Yet Stylish Buick SUV Ideation Sketch Feels Like an Artsy Off-Road Painting

3 Sep 2023, 00:04 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Buick recently made the news rounds with the 2024 model year version of the beloved Regal nameplate. Still, the facelift is for the sedan offered in China rather than a model sold in America because that's where sedans have remained relevant. ...

 
M.H.C 24 'The Legacy' Looks Surreal, but It's a Bonkers Datsun 240Z EV Destined for SEMA
M.H.C 24 'The Legacy' Looks Surreal, but It's a Bonkers Datsun 240Z EV Destined for SEMA

2 Sep 2023, 22:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Carlos Pecino, the virtual artist known as colorsponge, and Ash Thorp, aka ashthorp on social media, are behind M.H.C - a virtual design studio. Now, they're taking their passion to the next level. "M.H.C is a purely passion-d...

 
Mercedes-Benz CLA EV Might Be the EQA Sedan We Have Been Waiting For in Our Dreams
Mercedes-Benz CLA EV Might Be the EQA Sedan We Have Been Waiting For in Our Dreams

2 Sep 2023, 21:04 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Although the company aims to reign on the diversity of its nameplates (the new CLE just succeeded two models, not one), that doesn't mean Mercedes-Benz will refrain from an avalanche of new introductions this year and the next. The new ...

 
Are We There Yet? It Doesn't Even Matter in One of These Great Camper Vans or Trucks!
Are We There Yet? It Doesn't Even Matter in One of These Great Camper Vans or Trucks!

2 Sep 2023, 15:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The 2023 Caravan Salon Düsseldorf trade fair (August 25 – September 3) and Overland Expo Mountain West (August 25-27) hit the right vibes for the end of summer, and we're down to more adventures – with RVs, this time around. ...

 

Stories by Aurel Niculescu