autoevolution
 

Aurel Niculescu

9,200  ARTICLES

Staff Writer
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Once upon a time there was a little boy that didn't know his age but dreamed of reaching high in the sky alongside the absolute best aviators. He was passionate about reading books (action and Sci-Fi), grew up with many great authors and soon discovered the mirage of cinema.

There he understood anything is possible if you work hard and passionately strive to follow your imagination. This is how at the age of 16 he managed to fulfill the first dream – flying alone in a glider plane. He was no Tom Cruise, of course, so young adulthood brought him back to reality.

With every kick in the familiar *utt comes a chance to step forward, so a seemingly unimportant ad in one of his favorite automotive magazines brought a dilemma - follow through with the current job or dare to achieve greatness by deploying (previously) unknown literary skills.

Since 2006, he’s been perfecting them at Automondial, Supercar, Cox, Autoshow, Autopro, Auto Motor & Sport, and more magazines plus their online versions. After driving some of the best and worst cars in Europe and around the world, he’s part of the autoevolution team, where he aims to develop his best-ever form.
3-Door Toyota GR Corolla Too Impractical? Have a Digital Touring Version, Then
3-Door Toyota GR Corolla Too Impractical? Have a Digital Touring Version, Then

4 Apr 2022, 21:04 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Toyota Gazoo Racing just rocked North America’s Hot Hatch enthusiast world by officially presenting their fourth “bespoke” model, 2023’s GR Corolla. A bigger, more powerful sibling to the equally rally-bred GR Yaris, and als...

 
Cheap 1981 Datsun 210 Wagon Looks Amazing at Almost 200k Miles, There's a Catch
Cheap 1981 Datsun 210 Wagon Looks Amazing at Almost 200k Miles, There's a Catch

4 Apr 2022, 14:48 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Sure, family-oriented, grocery-getting station wagons are slowly falling out of fashion everywhere, not just (abruptly) in the United States. But wouldn’t that be the perfect moment to stand out in a JDM crowd? Today, only a small niche...

 
“Crypto” Dawn, Phantom and Cullinan Art Cars Roamed Miami Streets for NFT Week
“Crypto” Dawn, Phantom and Cullinan Art Cars Roamed Miami Streets for NFT Week

4 Apr 2022, 14:09 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Rolls-Royce itself is no stranger to crazy OEM wraps. Just take a look at the contrast between the 2024 Spectre and the icy cold-weather testing location if you need an example. But they still manage to look so traditionally obsolete... Even ...

 
Formula D Had the First Production Widebody Kits for 2023 Nissan Z, GR Corolla
Formula D Had the First Production Widebody Kits for 2023 Nissan Z, GR Corolla

4 Apr 2022, 13:18 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Just in case anyone needs a little virtual automotive design pep talk to follow their digital dreams, there was an easy example available over the weekend. And it all revolved around an influential artist and an iconic JDM-style competition. ...

 
2023 Lotus Eletre EV SUV Gets Rightfully Converted Into a Two-Door GT Coupe
2023 Lotus Eletre EV SUV Gets Rightfully Converted Into a Two-Door GT Coupe

4 Apr 2022, 11:12 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / While everyone in North America is rightfully stoked and obsessed by the arrival of the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla widebody 300-hp hot hatchback, some Euro folks are still trying to cope with the battery-powered, quirky 2023 Eletre SUV. In their own, s...

 
Ford Mustang Morphs as Japanese Mid-Engine “RR” to Wide-Shame S650 Tardiness
Ford Mustang Morphs as Japanese Mid-Engine “RR” to Wide-Shame S650 Tardiness

4 Apr 2022, 10:31 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Right now, Blue Oval passenger car enthusiasts do not have a lot of reasons to feel proud of their favorite Detroit automaker. There is just a singular nameplate left, and even that one is not doing too well these days... As we speak, those g...

 
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Turns Three-Door “GR Yarolla” to Mix in Best GR Yaris Trait
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Turns Three-Door “GR Yarolla” to Mix in Best GR Yaris Trait

4 Apr 2022, 09:00 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Once the 2023 GR Corolla was officially released, some were quick to point out that it feels like Akio Toyoda’s love letter to North American WRC/Hot Hatch enthusiasts. But that does not mean everyone thinks the 300-hp compact is perfect... ...

 
Holley Sky-Ram Fits Like CGI Charm on Ram “Giramfe,” Just Needs Moonshot NOS Now
Holley Sky-Ram Fits Like CGI Charm on Ram “Giramfe,” Just Needs Moonshot NOS Now

4 Apr 2022, 08:11 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / We always need to laugh a little, so there really is no surprise everyone dives in on the April Fools’ Day jokes. Including both the real and imaginary automotive industries. There are always layers of understanding and a wide variety o...

 
1988 Chevy Camaro Has Rear-Fitted ZZ632 and Digital Hoonigan Carbon Fiber Dreams
1988 Chevy Camaro Has Rear-Fitted ZZ632 and Digital Hoonigan Carbon Fiber Dreams

4 Apr 2022, 07:30 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Fans of the 2021 SEMA Show lovingly remember that edition for being a real-world affair all over again, as well as for some of the mind-blowing creations that graced the event. And some aficionados will also do something 3D about their favorites. ...

 
Shelby GT500 Drags BMW M4, Kia Stinger, Audi, Surprise Humiliation Narrowly Averted
Shelby GT500 Drags BMW M4, Kia Stinger, Audi, Surprise Humiliation Narrowly Averted

4 Apr 2022, 06:22 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / As always, one can never go wrong when trying to showcase an excerpt of the seemingly eternal America vs. Import quarter-mile dragstrip wars if one of the contenders is Blue Oval’s flagship muscle car. Or is it going to shame all its stock, O...

 
Why Are Ultra-Luxury SUVs Fugly, And Super-SUVs Like Eletre So Darn Quirky?
Why Are Ultra-Luxury SUVs Fugly, And Super-SUVs Like Eletre So Darn Quirky?

3 Apr 2022, 10:34 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Noticed how posh crossovers like Bentley’s Bentayga or Rolls-Royce's Cullinan are not exactly gorgeous design exercises? Or that super-SUVs such as Lambo’s Urus or the upcoming Ferrari Purosangue are pretty freaking odd? Well, it g...

 
ARB’s New Flinders Rooftop Tent Seems Perfect for a 2023 Ford F-150 Rattler
ARB’s New Flinders Rooftop Tent Seems Perfect for a 2023 Ford F-150 Rattler

2 Apr 2022, 10:34 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Finally, the dreadful winter is almost over, and we can all start pondering the spring road trip adventures. But wait, perhaps we should first get some new accessories, and maybe even a new truck... Among the many everyday woes there is alway...

 
Acura Integra Shows Honda Type R Wagon Back to Make M3 Touring Green With Envy
Acura Integra Shows Honda Type R Wagon Back to Make M3 Touring Green With Envy

1 Apr 2022, 21:34 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Right now, it seems BMW cannot get enough of station wagons in its 3 Series life, whether those are of the villain-capturing variety or the high-performance M3 Touring breed. But with a little help from a CGI expert, here is something JDM to make i...

 
Impractical Jeep Wrangler Turns Digital JK Work of Slammed, Wide Twin-Turbo Art
Impractical Jeep Wrangler Turns Digital JK Work of Slammed, Wide Twin-Turbo Art

1 Apr 2022, 21:04 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Jeep Wrangler’s real-world woes include the highest U.S. dealer markups on the market, Rubicon 392 drag racing (!), and making the 4xe (among others) interesting enough to the upcoming Easter Jeep Safari crowds. Over in the virtual realm, it ...

 
Logically, First 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 Convertible Will Also Be Sold at Auction
Logically, First 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 Convertible Will Also Be Sold at Auction

1 Apr 2022, 13:29 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / There is nothing surprising today that many popular new models or special edition limited series find their way into the auction roster with their first retail versions. And this inspired move has brought many new records. Just the other day ...

 
Pure Rolls Cullinan on Matching Forgiatos Shows “Crayola” Orange Is the New Black
Pure Rolls Cullinan on Matching Forgiatos Shows “Crayola” Orange Is the New Black

1 Apr 2022, 12:10 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / There is a rather normal tendency – including among affluent stars – to hide the most obvious design flaws of Rolls-Royce's Cullinan behind America’s murdered-out attire. However, not all bespoke creations are the same, even ...

 
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Gets Hoaxed Into Becoming a Supermini Malaise Vision
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Gets Hoaxed Into Becoming a Supermini Malaise Vision

1 Apr 2022, 10:40 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Long-awaited, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla five-door hot hatchback has been unveiled to make North American GR Yaris enthusiasts proud of their next JDM ride. However, the release was mere hours away from a rather ironic annual custom. Showing of...

 
Funny Enough, R31, R32, R34 Skyline GT-Rs Blend Nicely With VW Golfs and Passat
Funny Enough, R31, R32, R34 Skyline GT-Rs Blend Nicely With VW Golfs and Passat

1 Apr 2022, 09:54 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / As far as virtual automotive art is concerned, digital mashups are probably among the most flagitious subjects any pixel master can ever take up. However, there is a stark difference between fine irony/casual banter and outrageous silliness. ...

 
Unofficial Volvo XC90 Recharge Provides Serene EV Look Into Flagship SUV Future
Unofficial Volvo XC90 Recharge Provides Serene EV Look Into Flagship SUV Future

1 Apr 2022, 09:16 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Volvo Cars are doing swell on its way to becoming a ritzy, sustainable automaker. Its revenue and profitability reached an all-time high for 2021 and even better news is looming on the (EV) Recharge horizon. Subtly navigating the treacherous ...

 
Lowered 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee With CGI “Shadow Line” Looks Swanky in Town
Lowered 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee With CGI “Shadow Line” Looks Swanky in Town

1 Apr 2022, 08:31 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Around three decades since production started for the original Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ), the fifth-generation mid-size SUV is now a family of short- and long-wheelbase models. And that is not bad at all, but also a bit harder to stand out. An...

 

Stories by Aurel Niculescu