Andrei Costea
343 ARTICLES
Personal motto:
Drive quick through turns, they're dangerous! - his driving instructor
His favorites include the 60s-70s American muscle cars, 80s-90s Italian super cars and contemporary mean machines like the Murcielago or the 599 GTO. He dreams that one day he'll have the opportunity to drive alongside renowned racers on a track, or at least do a time attack in a reasonably priced car on BBC's famous show Top Gear.
Chevrolet Volt Arriving in Less than a Month, GM Is Exuberant
30 Nov 2010, 15:08 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / With the first deliveries of the Chevy Volt taking place next month, General Motors is on its path to a green future, probably filled with success. The automaker will mark the occasion with a celebration at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, where the...
UK Government Blocks EU Driving Offenses Enforcement
30 Nov 2010, 14:41 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / The UK Government is refusing to ratify an agreement that would allow member countries of the European Union to enforce traffic violations across international borders. The deal would also give police forces in all 27 member states access to databa...
Mitsubishi to Withdraw the Colt from the Market in Victoria
30 Nov 2010, 14:01 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / While three of Australia's best-selling compact cars will be granted exceptions from Victoria's controversial rules making electronic stability control (ESC) mandatory on all passenger cars and SUVs from January 1st, 2011, Mitsubishi won&...
2014 Lexus IS in the Works
30 Nov 2010, 13:01 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Rumors have been spreading across the world-wide-webs that a new generation of the Lexus IS is in the works and it will probably be based on the FT-86 platform that made its first appearance at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The FT-86 pays tribute t...
True Electric C70 by Electroengine Is Truly Impressive
30 Nov 2010, 11:24 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Electric car technology developer Electroengine, based in Uppsala, Sweden has converted a Volvo C70 into an all-electric car, called the C70-TE4WDD. The complicated looking name stands for C70-True Electric 4 Wheel Direct Drive. The "True E...
2011 Proton Saga Debuts at Thai Motor Expo 2010
30 Nov 2010, 10:55 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Proton has unveiled the 2011 Proton Saga facelift at the Thai Motor Expo 2010. Changes are minor, mostly at the exterior, but also include an USB/AUX-in function, an extra airbag and rear power windows for the higher spec models. Exterior change...
Volkswagen's TDI Engines are Bridge to Energy Independence
30 Nov 2010, 09:52 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Volkswagen claims that their TDI engines are the bridge to energy independence and the company has even been dubbed the most environmentally friendly carmaker selling in the USA by J.D. Power and Associates. Let's take a look at their so-call...
Think Triggers Production in Elkhart, Indiana
30 Nov 2010, 08:34 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / The Norwegian electric vehicle manufacturer Think has started production at its new assembly plant in Elkhart, Indiana and is hoping to roll out the first batch of city cars before the end of the year. The newly inaugurated plant will initially ...
Toyota Starts Prius Production in Thailand
30 Nov 2010, 08:30 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Toyota Motor Thailand Company Ltd. (TMT), Toyota's sales and production company based in Samutprakan, Thailand, held a ceremony to mark the start of production of the Prius at the Gateway Plant in Chachoengsao Province. Among attendees at t...
GM Adds Second Shift at Oshawa Plant, Brings Back 700 Jobs
29 Nov 2010, 16:05 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / GM will add a second shift to the Oshawa Car Assembly Plant's flexible manufacturing line to support the production of the new Camaro Convertible and the Buick Regal which will begin in early 2011. “We’re really excited to be ad...
Hyundai Starts Construction of Its Third Plant in China
29 Nov 2010, 15:43 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Hyundai's Chinese joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry (BAIC), Beijing Hyundai, has begun working on its third manufacturing plant in China, on the outskirts of Beijing. The new plant will be fully functional in 2012 and will have a ...
Fiat Splits, Gets Two New Logos
29 Nov 2010, 15:03 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Back in mid-September, Fiat shareholders approved Sergio Marchionne's plan to demerge Fiat’s cars from its industrial business, that will be completed on January 1st, 2011. Fiat's car and engine business, which also includes the Lan...
Volkswagen Up Will Have Three Pistons or More
29 Nov 2010, 14:39 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Volkswagen excluded the possibility of using a two-cylinder engine in its Up city car, saying that engine downsizing has reached its limits, in spite of Fiat recently introducing the two-piston Twinair engine on the 500 range, and the 2009 Tata Nan...
Nissan Leaf is 2011 European Car of the Year
29 Nov 2010, 13:21 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Nissan's big bet on electric cars is starting to pay off, as the Leaf has become the first all-electric vehicle to be honored with the "Car of the Year" award. The Leaf achieved 257 points and was joined on the podium by the Alfa Rom...
Porsche Shares Up 55% Last Month
29 Nov 2010, 12:59 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Porsche's share prices have been rising and they still have a long way to go with the Volkswagen merger to happen on favorable terms. Preferred shares have risen 55% to EUR 56.90 (US $75.38) this month, probably led by the 80% sales growth in ...
UK Police Will Use Mazda Covert Vehicles
29 Nov 2010, 11:43 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Mazda has been selected to supply the UK police with ‘standard vehicles’, used on covert and special operations. This is the first time Mazda vehicles are selected after the manufacturer earned a spot on the new four-year National Polic...
Red Bull X1 Real-Life Model Revealed
29 Nov 2010, 11:17 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / IDC Models released a time-lapse video of the build of the Red Bull X1 Prototype. Back in September, Sony and Red Bull entered a partnership that would spawn the ultimate virtual racing car, the X1 Prototype, which will be playable in Polyphony Dig...
Neste Oil Starts Renewable Diesel Production in Singapore
29 Nov 2010, 10:15 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Neste Oil commenced production at its new renewable diesel plant in Singapore, which been acknowledged as the world's largest facility of this type. The $550 million investment is claimed to have been completed on time and on-budget, and is Ne...
Infiniti's Marketing Predicament: Performance or Efficiency?
29 Nov 2010, 09:10 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / When Infiniti releases its first ever hybrid vehicle, the 2012 M35h sedan, it will face a challenge it had never encountered before. From the marketer's perspective, this is new ground for the Luxury import brand, as they'll have to learn...
Dinner With Lexus Manager Mark Templin
29 Nov 2010, 08:43 UTC · By: Andrei Costea / Lexus has been attempting to get close and personal with its customers for a while now, but traditional ways to market their product seem unreliable with the audience that the brand is targeting. In this case, it's time for a more soulful appr...