Bogdan Popa
13,195 ARTICLES
Personal motto:
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow" - Jeff Valdez, Stand-up Comedian.
He typically carries both an iPhone and Android device because there’s no such thing as the perfect phone, and he drives a car that some say is blue, others say is green.
His guilty pleasure is finding bugs in Android Auto (cc @Google, you’d better keep an eye on his reports, as these could actually help you refine the experience behind the wheel), and he occasionally tries out all kinds of weird gadgets that many people didn’t even know they exist.
His daily tech arsenal also includes a smartwatch and earbuds because that’s how geeks rock, as well as a laptop that has nothing in common with fruit.
Bogdan’s long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space in the trunk for his kid’s toys, as well as convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as the phones that these two companies build.
When he’s not writing about cars, Bogdan’s probably trying to fit a bike in the 375-liter trunk of his car or posting tech stuff for autoevolution’s sister site Softpedia.
VW Reports US Sales Drop, Blames the Global Recession
4 Feb 2009, 08:25 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Volkswagen of American today announced the January 2009 sales, unveiling a 11.6 percent drop compared to the same month of the previous year. This is nothing more than a consequence of the economic crisis, Volkswagen said, blaming the global recess...
Geneva to Bring Citroen DS Rebirth
3 Feb 2009, 17:16 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The popular Citroen DS model which saw daylight during the '50 and became famous thanks to its aerodynamic body design will be revived by the French manufacturer at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, as part of a broader global rebranding campaig...
Boehler concept.BS3 – Tuned Audi S3 Producing 328 HP
3 Feb 2009, 16:18 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / O.CT Tuning recently presented its latest creation, the so-called Boehler concept.BS3, an aftermarket Audi S3 that incorporates both exterior styling and engine performance upgrades. The aerodynamics package designed by Swiss Styling Expert Color C...
BMW Leads All-Wheel Drive Sector in Australia
3 Feb 2009, 15:39 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / According to the 2008 sales results, BMW leads the all-wheel drive sector, as it managed to deliver way more vehicles fitted with such a system than its Australian competitors. More than 323,000 units equipped with BMW's xDrive system were del...
BMW M Car Sales Up 50 Percent in 2008
3 Feb 2009, 14:28 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Despite the difficult market conditions that slashed sales all over the world, BMW M Automobiles today unveiled the 2008 financial results, revealing the second-best result in the thirty-year history of the company. Overall sales were increased by ...
BMW Says No Dual-Clutch, Opts for Eight-Speed Automatic
3 Feb 2009, 14:18 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / BMW will rely more on eight-speed automatic transmissions and less on dual-clutch systems, Klaus Draeger, BMW’s development chief said today, pointing to a number of advantages brought by an automatic unit. First of all, the dual-clutch trans...
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Achieves 65 MPG
3 Feb 2009, 11:51 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Even if it's well known the fact that Toyota Prius provides a very low fuel consumption thanks to its hybrid system, the plug-in hybrid technology brings even more than that. According to Toyota, the plug-in Prius is able to achieve even 65 mp...
Massive NHTSA Recall Assaults the US
3 Feb 2009, 10:57 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / As if the economic recession wasn't enough, the United States are now assaulted by a massive NHTSA recall which concerns several brands, including Toyota, Volvo and Ford. First of all, there's the current number one automaker Toyota wh...
Focus-Based Ford Electric Car Set for 2010
3 Feb 2009, 10:45 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Stepping into the hybrid world and rushing to electrification is undoubtedly a main task for most automakers around the world as gasoline prices skyrocketed in the last months and governments pushed companies to alternative sources of power. And si...
PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW Discuss Alliance
3 Feb 2009, 09:51 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Forming strategic alliances during recession times seem to be the easiest way to cut costs without slashing budgets and workforce at plants around the world. And even if they were often described as less-affected companies when it comes to the econ...
Mercedes to Test the US Market with Natural-Gas Vehicle
3 Feb 2009, 09:40 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Launching a natural-gas powered vehicle during recession times sounds like a pretty good idea but Mercedes says it must test the market first and then decide whether to proceed to mass-production or remain focused on gasoline and diesel engines. Me...
Acura Still Aiming to Become Top Luxury Brand
3 Feb 2009, 08:25 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / While some companies struggle to remain in business and maintain their sales on the floating line, others confirm their enthusiastic plans to increase sales and become leaders of their sectors. Such an example is Honda's Acura brand who recent...
American Automaker Saleen Sells Part of the Company
3 Feb 2009, 07:51 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Rumors claiming Saleen Incorporated was looking to sell certain assets belonging to the company proved to be true today as the American automaker today confirmed that MJ Acquisitions is the new owner of certain parts, related to Saleen's super...
Scion Gets Ready for Fourth Model
2 Feb 2009, 16:31 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Scion may release the fourth model of its production lineup by 2011, Vice President Jack Hollis said, with the new vehicle especially supposed to replace the 7-year-old tC coupe. Even though he didn't unveil too many details regarding the new ...
GM Still Unsure of Cadillac Converj Bodystyle
2 Feb 2009, 16:26 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Ever since the American automaker displayed the Cadillac Converj concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, people started talking about the mass-production model, discussing whether GM plans to design a 2- or 4-door Cadillac. Afte...
Japanese January Sales Lowest in 37 Years
2 Feb 2009, 16:01 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Despite some rumors claiming the Japanese automotive industry is less affected by the economic downturn, new car sales in Japan reached the lowest point in 37 years in January, according to Reuters quoting the Japan Automobile Dealers. Excluding mi...
Ford Reduces Warranty Costs, Praises Vehicles' Quality
2 Feb 2009, 15:16 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Ford managed to reduce worldwide warranty repair costs by $1.2 billion in the past two years, with the warranty repair rate for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models in the United States almost 50 percent reduced compared to the 2004 figures. The Americ...
UK 2009 Toyota Aygo Lineup Upgraded
2 Feb 2009, 14:35 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Toyota today announced the revised 2009 UK Aygo lineup goes on sale at dealerships across the country including two new models that bring even better equipment levels and reduced costs of ownership. Both the Aygo Blue and Aygo Black are powered by ...
2009 Audi R8 Auctioned at Naples Winter Wine Festival
2 Feb 2009, 13:50 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Audi today announced that a specially crafted 2009 R8 model will be auctioned at the upcoming Naples Winter Wine Festival in Naples, Florida. The R8 is finished in Ibis White and features a black Fine Nappa leather interior plus Alcantara and a Ban...
Dealers Under Financial Pressure, Slash Workforce Across the US
2 Feb 2009, 10:59 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Even if the United States government agreed to help the struggling domestic automakers GM and Chrysler, problems are far from being over in the country. Despite the companies' efforts to preserve jobs, more than 50,000 people lost their jobs i...