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.
Duesenberg Model A Touring by Millspaugh & Irish Up for Auction
13 Jul 2014, 15:45 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Duesenberg was to America what Rolls-Royce is to Great Britain – the pinnacle of automotive luxury. However, the Indiana-based manufacturer has bitten the dust in 1937, whereas Rollers are still being made today. That's all the more reas...
Tesla Delivered Over 1 GWh of Zap In June
13 Jul 2014, 15:03 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Even though Tesla Motors was founded some 11 years ago, the Palo Alto-based startup is celebrating a big milestone after years of relentless research and marketing work in the still undeveloped world of pure electric vehicles. Namely, Tesla's ...
Ford Crown Victoria Investigated Over Steering Problem
13 Jul 2014, 13:36 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The NHTSA is hard at work nowadays, the most recent preliminary evaluation looking into a potential issue with the Ford Crown Victoria. The Office of Defects Investigation has received 5 complaints alleging incidents of steering shaft obstruction c...
Stile Bertone Out of Business
13 Jul 2014, 13:01 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / It's a very sad day for the automotive world when one of Italy's oldest and most revered car design house goes belly up with mountains of debt accumulated over the past few years. Bertone was declared bankrupt and is up for sale, whether ...
Ex-Steve McQueen Chevrolet El Camino Heading to Auction
11 Jul 2014, 18:17 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / See the car pictured above? That's a third-generation Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 from 1970. Out of the 47,707 units built that year, this one is arguably the most special of the lot because it has a significant ownership history in the form of...
Rod Stewart's Ferrari F40 Offered at Auction
11 Jul 2014, 17:40 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Most rock'n'roll fans know who Rod Stewart is. For those who don't, he's a British singer-songwriter that sold over 100 million records worldwide, had 6 consecutive #1 albums and released a whopping 62 hit singles throughout his...
Stolen Tesla Model S Driver Allegedly Dies After High-Speed Crash
11 Jul 2014, 16:53 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If you were sitting at home watching TV on the 4th of July, then you might have heard that a stolen Tesla Model S kicked off a high-speed police pursuit that ultimately ended with a fiery crash that split the electric vehicle in two big chunks of t...
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Sport Package Plus Unveiled
11 Jul 2014, 16:04 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If you're in the market for a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 but want the looks of the CLA 45 AMG without the horsepower-laden drama under the bonnet, then the Sport Package Plus is the option to float your boat. Think of it as the bonkers version o...
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet A205 Spied Wearing Swirly Camo
11 Jul 2014, 14:45 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Since the Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 has made its world premiere at the 2014 North American Auto Show, the all-new model won the hearts of many premium sedan buyers. Available with a choice of 1.6 to 3-liter engines and in estate flavor as wel...
Chrysler Recalling 895k SUVs Over Electrical Defect
11 Jul 2014, 13:48 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Chrysler just announced that an estimated 895k SUVs are being called back over a pretty atypical fault. It's not about ignition switches, Takata airbags, a glitchy power steering control module and not even premature corrosion. Inadequate vani...
2015 Chevrolet Volt Leaked Ahead of Launch?
11 Jul 2014, 12:47 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / While browsing through the inventories of Stateside Chevrolet dealers, we were gobsmacked by several listings of the 2015 Chevrolet Volt. Holding a base MSRP of $34,995, the same as the outgoing model year, the updated Volt is nowhere to be found o...
China-Spec 2015 Ford Mustang GT Spotted
11 Jul 2014, 11:48 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / According to Ford China, the all-new Ford Mustang will hit the Chinese market in the first quarter of 2015. It seems that the first showroom cars have already arrived in dealerships, including the awesome example of the breed you can admire in the ...
2015 Ford Mustang Fastback to Start Production on July 14th, OK to Buy on September 9th
11 Jul 2014, 09:49 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / A leaked dealer bulletin informs that the all-new Ford Mustang in fastback guise will start production at the Blue Oval's Dearborn facility three days from now on. Mark the 15th of September in your calendar as well because the document hints ...
All-New Ford Galaxy Spied For the First Time
11 Jul 2014, 08:57 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Since 1995, Ford's large MPV steadily became one of the best-selling family haulers around. After no less than three generations, the minivan's fourth iteration is almost ready to hit showrooms worldwide. But 'til that moment comes, ...
Fast and Furious 7 Wraps Up Filming, Movie Premiere Slated for April 3rd, 2015
10 Jul 2014, 19:56 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Have we got great news for fans of the Fast & Furious franchise! The official Facebook page of the action films centered around street racing and over-the-top heists announced in a recent post that it had "completed the last shot in the pr...
2015 Ford Falcon Teased
10 Jul 2014, 19:12 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Before the Blue Oval puts the lock on its production facilities from the Land Down Under, there's one final Falcon slated to go on sale this November. Teased on the brand's Facebook page through the picture you see above and the #Official...
All-New Citroen C1 is a Naturally Urban Runabout · Video
10 Jul 2014, 18:20 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If you're in the market for a tiny, frugal, practical and funky motor, look no further than the Toyota Aygo – Citroen C1 – Peugeot 108 trio. These city dwellers are underpinned by the same platform, but they're very distinct a...
Best Ways to Clean Your Convertible's Soft Top
10 Jul 2014, 15:50 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Summer is almost here, meaning that it's prime time for a road trip with your significant other, family, or BFFs. Suppose you were to ask each and every driver in this world what the perfect vehicle to enjoy the warmest and most anticipated se...
Ant-Kahn Evanta Barchetta In the Works
10 Jul 2014, 12:52 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Remember the Aston Martin DBR1? It's a sports racer that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959, the British marque's only outright victory at the most prestigious endurance race in the world. A number of replicas have been built over the ye...
Suzuki Swift SZ-L On Sale Now
10 Jul 2014, 11:40 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Based on the mid-grade SZ3 trim level, the special edition Suzuki Swift SZ-L is now available for order in the United Kingdom. Offered with a VAT free promotion until September 30th, the base sticker price of this quirky Japanese subcompact sits at...