Mircea Panait
20,321 ARTICLES
Personal motto:
"If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae
Interning for Top Gear was his first foray in automotive journalism, and not long after that, a full-time position was opened for Mircea to seal the deal. Just about three years later, autoevolution became his new home.
Especially interested in American ponies and muscle cars, Mircea also finds the Japanese domestic market appealing thanks to the quirkiness of kei cars. Full-size pickups like the Ram 1500 and off-roaders such as the Ford Ranger Raptor and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon are much to his liking as well.
A self-described master of pasta and an avid CCG player, Mircea’s past-time activities include playing his Epiphone Les Paul Special Vintage Edition electric guitar, discovering the wonders of the Carpathian mountains by foot, and driving to the Black Sea to get a well-deserved tan.
2015 Chevrolet Impala Will Be Launched This Summer
22 May 2014, 16:13 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / One of the industry's most enduring and popular nameplates, the Chevrolet Impala, will see a small nip and tuck job for the 2015 model year. The revised version of the 10th generation Impala is slated to arrive in North American showrooms this...
Hennessey HPE650 Supercharged C7 Corvette vs. 2015 Corvette Z06 · Video
22 May 2014, 15:22 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / With 650 horsepower on tap and a limited production run of 100 units, does the new Hennessey Performance HPE650 supercharged upgrade have what it takes to be better than Chevrolet's all-new 2015 Corvette Z06? On the horsepower front, it kin...
Marchionne Calls Auto Industry 'An Incredibly Flat World'
22 May 2014, 14:24 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Yesterday morning, Italian brake supplier Brembo formally announced the $115 million expansion of its Homer, Michigan-based manufacturing plant. Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne also attended the grand opening of the facility, giving...
Custom 1931 Ford Model A Hot Rod Boasts Killer Looks And Big Block Power · Video
22 May 2014, 13:24 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If you're the type of hot rod enthusiast that thinks the scene has gone a little bit benign over the last years, fear not because we've found an ominous looking custom Model A with a bona fide hot rod twist to it. In the olden days, wh...
Fiat Loses $14k For Every 500e Sold
22 May 2014, 11:44 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / At least that's what Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne says so. The automotive group's godfather kind of predicted this since three years ago, when he declared to the media that his company would lose $10k for every 500e sol...
Naked Man Jumps Through the Sunroof of a Moving Vehicle
22 May 2014, 09:14 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Have you ever been so mad that you undressed yourself entirely in full public view, jumped headfirst through the sunroof a passing car and attacked the driver of the car? Well, maybe not, but a guy did just that recently. It's a normal Frid...
2015 Lincoln Navigator Can Be Yours For $62k
22 May 2014, 08:24 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Lincoln Motor Company announced that it's refreshed Navigator full-size luxury SUV will go on sale early this fall, with a starting MSRP of $62,475 for the entry-level 4x2 model. Featuring a redesigned exterior design, a revamped interi...
2015 GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Unveiled
21 May 2014, 18:17 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Blending exclusive design features and off-road prowess, the 2015 GMC Sierra All Terrain HD joins the American manufacturer's range of versatile pickup trucks. The highly capable model will go on sale this summer, with pricing to be disclosed ...
GM Recall: 218k Chevrolet Aveo Sedans Affected
21 May 2014, 17:01 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Lately it seems that General Motors announces a call back operation every 24 hours or so. This instance, older generation Chevrolet Aveo subcompacts are recalled over melting electronics. GM's fifth campaign this week includes 218,000 units...
1968 AC Frua Coupe For Sale in Missouri
21 May 2014, 16:14 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Combining the exquisite coachbuilding skills of leading Italian designer Pietro Frua and the raw persona of the Shelby Cobra, this spectacular GT is certain to rock the boat of any classic car enthusiast. 49 coupes, 29 convertibles and 3 special...
GM to Pay $10 Billion Worth Of Lawsuit Settlements
21 May 2014, 14:59 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Just like we've told you a few days back, those $35 million going to the NHTSA from Government Motors' pockets aren't really enough to properly wash GM's recall sins. Currently, 79 lawsuits from very angry customers affected by ...
2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Costs $25,995, GT Starts At $32,925
21 May 2014, 14:10 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Yesterday we've told you that the entry-level V6-powered all-new Mustang holds an MSRP of $24,425 including destination and delivery fee. Today, further pricing information surfaced on the Web courtesy of a Ford dealership employee from Virgin...
NCE to Build Tesla Model S Two-Door Coupe and Convertible Conversions
21 May 2014, 12:35 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Ever since Tesla Motors dropped the Roadster, the Palo Alto-based EV manufacturer's range lacked a two-door model. But that'll soon change thanks to the talented engineers from Newport Convertible Engineering. For a number of decades n...
Fancy Winning a 2015 Ford Mustang?
21 May 2014, 11:41 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If you can't afford to part with the $24,425 an all-new Ford Mustang commands for the entry-level 3.7-liter V6 model, then have we got good news for you. The Blue Oval partnered with the BET channel to offer any U.S. resident the chance to win...
2016 Ford F-650, F-750 Trucks Available Spring 2015
21 May 2014, 09:30 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Blue Oval's successful line of medium-duty trucks will be revamped for the 2016 model year. Slated for launch early next year, Ford says that its all-new truck models will provide best-in-class standard horsepower and torque figures. De...
Tesla Model S 60kWh Now Available in China
21 May 2014, 08:38 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The least expensive version of the Model S luxury four-door electric sedan is now available for order on the Chinese market. Customers that place orders for the 60kWh model now will have their vehicles delivered in 3 to 4 months according to the ma...
Roger Moore's Aston Martin DBS Sold For $900k · Video
20 May 2014, 18:05 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Imagine it's the dawn of the '70s and you're a British teenager with a passion for action packed police series. One of the most entertaining shows broadcast on the telly back then was 'The Persuaders!' Starring heavyweig...
GM Recall Saga Continues: 2.42 Million Vehicles Affected
20 May 2014, 16:51 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / After 8.1 million cars recalled in 2014 alone and a $35 million fine for delayed reporting of call back operations, Government Motors announced today it's recalling an extra 2.42 million vehicles. Achievement unlocked GM, you've surpassed...
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Packs 600+ Horsepower · Video
20 May 2014, 15:37 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Mark your calendars, boys and girls, cause the 20th of May is probably the best day for American muscle in 2014. On this faithful day, Dodge unleashed the first specs, photos and videos of the mighty, heavily-anticipated 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT H...
Wankel-Engined Turbo Holden Gemini Records 9-Second Quarter Mile Run
20 May 2014, 14:03 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / There's a very small chance for an Aussie car enthusiast to see a beat-up mid-1970s Holden Gemini on the streets because most of them are currently eaten up by rust while sitting in scrapyards all around the country. But a Gemini that can do 0...