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Mircea Panait

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Personal motto:

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

Senior Contributor
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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.
Teenage Drivers Are Most Prone to Cause Accidents, Study Reveals
Teenage Drivers Are Most Prone to Cause Accidents, Study Reveals

28 May 2014, 16:43 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Ever wondered which age group of drivers is most likely to be involved in a car crash? Yup, most of you guessed it - teenagers aged 17 to 19 make up one in eight automobile accidents that involve injury. The U.K.-based Royal Automobile Club and ...

 
Cadillac Drops Future Large CUV In Favor of a Crossover
Cadillac Drops Future Large CUV In Favor of a Crossover

28 May 2014, 15:51 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Let's be frank on this: North American drivers love their large four-wheel drive yachts. No wonder the SUV segment is so disputed by carmakers from all corners of the world, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Lexus. However, Cadillac wants a pi...

 
50 Years of Ford Mustang, Same Design Cues <span>· Video</span>
50 Years of Ford Mustang, Same Design Cues · Video

28 May 2014, 14:44 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Combining stylistic elements both old and contemporary, the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang features instantly recognizable design cues inside and outside. Even though much has changed since it was introduced back in 1964, certain visual trademarks conti...

 
NHTSA Probes 2013, 2014 Nissan Sentra, Versa Over Brake Issue
NHTSA Probes 2013, 2014 Nissan Sentra, Versa Over Brake Issue

28 May 2014, 13:49 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Even though General Motors is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's number one "customer", other carmakers have their fair share of recalls waiting to happen. This time, the agency opened an investigation into Nissan o...

 
Supercharged Hellcat V8 Engine Detailed <span>· Video</span>
Supercharged Hellcat V8 Engine Detailed · Video

28 May 2014, 12:25 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Almost a week ago, Dodge unveiled the first photos and specs of this year's most anticipated muscle car - the awe-inspiring 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. As we're sure you know, the centrepiece of the package is the monstrous blown 6...

 
Racing Against Lasers: Titanium Strong Blackout
Racing Against Lasers: Titanium Strong Blackout

28 May 2014, 09:30 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Ken Block, Augusto Farfus, Adrian Zaugg and Mike Rockenfeller teamed up to take on a challenge like no other before it. Prepare to see four very fast cars doing amazing stunts and breathtaking drifts while racing in complete darkness against lights...

 
Spyshots: 2016 Buick Verano Caught On Camera
Spyshots: 2016 Buick Verano Caught On Camera

28 May 2014, 07:56 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Ahead of its late 2015 launch, the all-new Buick Verano has been immortalized on film by our spy photographers for the second time. Even though it is wrapped in lots of swirly camouflage, the test mule is revealing enough to show us the shape of th...

 
Tony Fernandes Confirms Caterham Is Not For Sale
Tony Fernandes Confirms Caterham Is Not For Sale

27 May 2014, 20:42 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Shareholders of the Leafield, Norfolk-based Caterham Group confirmed today that despite recent press rumors to the contrary, the company is not for sale. Even though a Malaysian publication revealed a little while back that Tony Fernandes intend...

 
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Order Guide Leaked
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Order Guide Leaked

27 May 2014, 18:52 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Good news, Vette enthusiasts! The 2015 model year of your favorite American sports car is nearing its release date and boy does it pack a bucket load of goodies certain to make your heart race with intense desire. Starting off with with our earl...

 
Upcoming Bentley SUV Teased, Plug-In Hybrid Confirmed
Upcoming Bentley SUV Teased, Plug-In Hybrid Confirmed

27 May 2014, 16:41 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Entitled 'See Through New Eyes', Bentley's all-new brief video teaser of the future ultra-luxury SUV offers us a glimpse on the styling of the vehicle. According to the manufacturer, "the coming months will see the refinement of...

 
Caddy Buyers Spend Big Bucks On the CTS Sedan
Caddy Buyers Spend Big Bucks On the CTS Sedan

27 May 2014, 15:31 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / A recent industry report shows that American customers of the 2014 Cadillac CTS spend as much money on kitting out the mid-size sedan as buyers of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. According to the report, the average Caddy CTS sedan s...

 
2004 Jaguar BlackJag Concept by Fuore Design Can Be Yours for €2.8 Million
2004 Jaguar BlackJag Concept by Fuore Design Can Be Yours for €2.8 Million

27 May 2014, 14:06 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Under Ford ownership, Jaguar made a couple of awfully nostalgic sedans such as the S-Type and Mondeo-based X-Type, as well as a lot of remarkable concept cars. The 2004 Jaguar BlackJag Concept by Fuore Design is one of them and boy does it look fla...

 
Retro-Futuristic Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione Storms Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
Retro-Futuristic Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione Storms Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

27 May 2014, 12:50 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Even though this year's most prestigious elegance competition for classic and vintage cars was won by a 1956 Maserati 450 S and an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS from 1931, the real head turner of the show was the jaw dropping beautiful Fiat Abarth 200...

 
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Calypso Coral Up for Auction
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Calypso Coral Up for Auction

27 May 2014, 11:42 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / One of only 89 Calypso Coral Boss 429s produced in 1970 will be auctioned by Mecum at a Seattle event on June 13th, 2014. KK #2500 is questionably the most special of the breed, winning both the Team Shelby National Diamond Award and the Division 1...

 
NCM Motorsports Park Is Nearing Completion
NCM Motorsports Park Is Nearing Completion

27 May 2014, 09:26 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Work on the National Corvette Museum's Motorsports Park is progressing nicely according to a recent aerial photo. When it will be finished, the facility will boast a 3.15-mile road course specifically designed for Corvette owners that want to ...

 
Lancia Delta to Be Discontinued This Year, Voyager to Follow
Lancia Delta to Be Discontinued This Year, Voyager to Follow

27 May 2014, 08:39 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / It's no secret that for a few years now, the Italian brand is no big seller due to a number of reasons: high prices, average quality fit & finish, Fiat underpinnings and a less than diverse model lineup. Naturally, the only people that ...

 
Jeep to Recalibrate Cherokee's 9-Speed Gearbox Software Again
Jeep to Recalibrate Cherokee's 9-Speed Gearbox Software Again

26 May 2014, 20:52 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / According to a recent technical service bulletin, Chrysler informs that dealers have to perform a software reprogram on more than 100,000 Jeep Cherokee SUVs equipped with the new nine-speed gearbox. Built before May 5th, 2014, the affected vehic...

 
Caterham Up For Sale, Malaysian Publication Reports
Caterham Up For Sale, Malaysian Publication Reports

26 May 2014, 20:10 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Tony Fernandes, CEO of the low-cost carrier AirAsia Berhad and the founder of Caterham F1, is reportedly ready to sell the whole Caterham Group for £350 million ($589 million at current exchange rates). According to The Edge Malaysia, the ...

 
Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype Going Under the Hammer
Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype Going Under the Hammer

26 May 2014, 14:34 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The 8th of twelve GT40 prototypes ever built is one of the most sought-after examples of American engineering and design at its best. This one of four roadsters ever made will be up for auction at this year's RM Monterey event on Saturday, Aug...

 
Prepare to Buckle Up Whether You Like It or Not
Prepare to Buckle Up Whether You Like It or Not

26 May 2014, 13:45 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / General Motors' new 'Belt Assurance System' safety feature will practically enforce fastening your seat belts before driving off by not allowing shifting from 'park' to 'drive' until the driver and front passenger...

 

Stories by Mircea Panait