autoevolution
 

Mircea Panait

20,321  ARTICLES

Personal motto:

"If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

Senior Contributor
editor photo
Little did he knew back then, but a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO is what sparked Mircea’s interest for cars when he was just a kid. Despite studying mathematics and informatics in high school and economics in university, Mircea turned his passion for all things automotive into a job.
 
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.
Nissan X-Trail UK Pricing, Specs Released
Nissan X-Trail UK Pricing, Specs Released

1 May 2014, 16:39 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The third-generation T32 Nissan X-Trail will hit UK dealerships on July 17th, with prices starting from £22,995 and topping at £31,695. Sporting sleek and modern looks, as well as a suite of in-class technological firsts, the all-new mi...

 
Country Music Star Tim McGraw to Present Hot Rod Documentary
Country Music Star Tim McGraw to Present Hot Rod Documentary

1 May 2014, 15:32 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Set to debut on the 7th of May on the National Geographic Channel, the "Breaking Barriers" documentary traces the history of land speed record attempts and the brave men that made it possible. The Pennzoil sponsored feature film had it...

 
Chrysler Group Reports April 2014 US Sales
Chrysler Group Reports April 2014 US Sales

1 May 2014, 14:08 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Chrysler Group LLC announced US vehicle sales of 178,652 units, which translates in a 14 percent increase compared to April 2013. The fourth month of 2014 is the group's best in sales volume since 2007, extending the streak of year-over-ye...

 
Mark Fields Named Ford CEO and President
Mark Fields Named Ford CEO and President

1 May 2014, 13:25 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Blue Oval officially announced that Alan Mulally will retire from Ford on the 1st of July after serving the company as CEO since September 2006. Mark Fields, Ford's chief operations officer since December 2012, will take his place as ...

 
Holden Will Debut Four New Models in 2015 <span>· Video</span>
Holden Will Debut Four New Models in 2015 · Video

1 May 2014, 12:28 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / In the first half of next year, Holden's lineup in Australia and New Zealand will be broadened with the addition of the Cascada hard-top convertible, Astra GTC and VXR hatchbacks and the Insignia VXR four-door performance sedan. From a mech...

 
Biggest F1 Parade Ever Will Take Place at Silverstone
Biggest F1 Parade Ever Will Take Place at Silverstone

1 May 2014, 11:34 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Celebrating half a century of grand prix racing at the historic circuit, this summer's Silverstone Classic event will stage the world's biggest ever parade of Formula 1 cars. The cavalcade of race vehicles will be led by International Mot...

 
2015 Ford Mustang Featured in Bizarre 80s Dance Battle
2015 Ford Mustang Featured in Bizarre 80s Dance Battle

1 May 2014, 10:05 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / What happens when you combine the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang with everything that's wrong about the '80s and modern day pop singers? You get a happy-go-lucky music video with little to no artistic or marketing credibility whatsoever. Th...

 
Ford Starts 2015 Transit Van Production
Ford Starts 2015 Transit Van Production

1 May 2014, 09:05 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The much-anticipated 2015 Ford Transit commercial vehicle just started production Stateside yesterday. On sale this summer, the full-size van is assembled at the Blue Oval's Kansas City Plant by 2,000 new employees. Ford says it invested $1...

 
Next-Gen Aston Martin Models Could Use AMG Turbocharged Engines
Next-Gen Aston Martin Models Could Use AMG Turbocharged Engines

1 May 2014, 08:04 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Great Britain's most loved sports car manufacturer is currently working on an all-new platform, which will replace the aging VH architecture. The new platform will first debut on the next-gen DB9 grand tourer sometime in 2016. The brand...

 
Chevy Won't Sell Camaro Z/28 Parts To Non-Owners
Chevy Won't Sell Camaro Z/28 Parts To Non-Owners

30 Apr 2014, 16:25 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / A number of 35 key replacement components for the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro aren't available to the general public according to a recently leaked Technical Service Bulletin. Looks like the only way you can order an original Z/28 differential or fr...

 
Jeep Cherokee UK Prices Announced
Jeep Cherokee UK Prices Announced

30 Apr 2014, 15:43 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / As British order books for the Cherokee open this week, Jeep announced the UK pricing list of the all-new mid-size American SUV. £25,495 will buy you the entry-level front-wheel drive model, while the top-of-the-range Limited 170 Automatic 4x...

 
UK Government Encourages EV Drivers Once Again
UK Government Encourages EV Drivers Once Again

30 Apr 2014, 14:30 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Thanks to a new state-funded five-year investment programme worth £500 million, British motorists in the market for eco-friendly electric cars will benefit from the same £5,000 incentive as before for an extra three years. Starting n...

 
Holden Replaces Commodore and Ute with Storm Models
Holden Replaces Commodore and Ute with Storm Models

30 Apr 2014, 13:32 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / General Motors' Australian arm swiftly replaced the Commodore SV6, SS and Ute with slightly improved models bearing the 'Storm' suffix. These special edition models replace the standard vehicles from the lineup and will be sold for a...

 
2014 Chevrolet SS Supercharged by Hennessey Performance <span>· Video</span>
2014 Chevrolet SS Supercharged by Hennessey Performance · Video

30 Apr 2014, 11:56 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Punchy American muscle and unassuming sleeper looks must be a match made in automotive Heaven. General Motors agrees with its 2014 Chevrolet SS four-door performance saloon. If you're the kind of guy that loves the looks but needs a little mor...

 
Yes, Your Car Makes You More Attractive
Yes, Your Car Makes You More Attractive

30 Apr 2014, 10:11 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Drivers, rejoice! A recent study answered the much-debated age-old big question of what women think of a man's character and economic status according to what vehicle he drives. Unfortunately for the more shallow lads out there, one in two gir...

 
2015 GMC Canyon Boasts First-in-Segment Child Safety Feature
2015 GMC Canyon Boasts First-in-Segment Child Safety Feature

30 Apr 2014, 08:47 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / General Motors announced that the all-new GMC Canyon pickup truck will come to a showroom near you this fall chuck-full of active safety technologies and a first-in-segment child restraint safety feature. A common problem with extended midsize ...

 
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 SSV Joins Police Lineup
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 SSV Joins Police Lineup

30 Apr 2014, 07:50 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Chevy announced that the Silverado 1500 Crew Cab will be offered in Special Service Vehicle (SSV) trim specially adapted for police use starting this summer. The General Motors subsidiary says that the pickup truck will offer the same capabilities,...

 
Tesla Inaugurates 100th Supercharger Station
Tesla Inaugurates 100th Supercharger Station

29 Apr 2014, 16:30 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The American electric vehicle manufacturer cut the ribbon off its 100th Supercharger station in Hamilton, New Jersey. This milestone event was attended by more than 100 people, including the same NJ state legislators that practically banned direct ...

 
Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 Returns to the Nurburgring
Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 Returns to the Nurburgring

29 Apr 2014, 15:49 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Japanese auto manufacturer announced that it will bring back the GT-R to the grueling Nordschleife circuit, for the 2014 Nurburgring 24 Hours. The tough endurance race will take place from June 21st to 22nd, its ultimate goal being that of prov...

 
Watch the Goodguys Autocross Pro Drivers Go All Out in Florida
Watch the Goodguys Autocross Pro Drivers Go All Out in Florida

29 Apr 2014, 14:58 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / From April 25th to 27th, the Osceola Heritage Park located in Kissimme, Florida hosted the Goodguys All American Nationals car show. In addition to more than 1,500 vehicles on display, the Osceola County event also featured the entertaining Goodguy...

 

Stories by Mircea Panait