Aurel Niculescu
9,258 ARTICLES
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.
Real vs Imaginary, Pick Your 1980s or 1990s Honda Civic Hatchback Custom Poison
24 Nov 2021, 13:05 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / With eleven generations under its belt, it is safe to say that Honda’s Civic has a place in automotive history. Perhaps it can even be categorized as a living legend since there are so many fans eager to elevate it on that pedestal. And...
"Slantnose" Time Attack Toyota GR Supra Imagined As Fully Winged King of the Hill
24 Nov 2021, 12:18 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Although time attack and hill-climbing are both timed motorsport disciplines, they do have different rules, formats, and above all, locations. One takes place on the track, while the other is usually based on gradient road courses. Even thoug...
Toyota Celica GT-Four Gets Fast Digital Rebirth Using GR Supra Underpinnings
24 Nov 2021, 11:05 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The Japanese automaker is not without sporty and performance-oriented vehicles. But only the GR Yaris is a true passion project. Unlike the 86 series or the fifth-generation GR Supra. For Toyota, its second-generation GR86 fills the need for a...
Widebody AMC Javelin Feels More Suiting of Muscle Car Legacy in Quick Rendering
24 Nov 2021, 10:14 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Just like real-world artists, automotive pixel masters have darker or lighter periods of creation. And sometimes, the transition is both fast and obvious. Just like with this subtly remastered AMC Javelin. Rostislav Prokop, the Czech virtual ...
Ferrari F40 “Kaido Racer” Might Be the Unhinged CGI Assistant of a Mad Scientist
24 Nov 2021, 09:32 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Eclectic car aficionados need to give proper attention to virtual artist Abimelec Arellano’s latest digital project. After all, it’s a mashup of so many things even the pixel master needed a lengthy description to explain himself. ...
All-New Ford Ranger Debuts With Maverick Styling, Ready for Work, Family, Play From 2023
24 Nov 2021, 08:48 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / After a glorious decade-long T6 stint, Ford’s Ranger is finally ready for a new generation. One that comes in line – visually – with both its smaller Maverick and larger F-150 siblings. And, of course, it also promises more of eve...
Fully Custom 1929 Ford Model A Rides Dropped and Chopped As Soundtrack Rascal
24 Nov 2021, 08:10 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / While Shawn Davis and his AutotopiaLA channel on YouTube usually are more into custom and restomod muscle cars, he is never going to pass the opportunity to show us something that looks incredible. Or, in this case, let us hear it... A couple ...
Dodge Charger Hellcat Grudge Races Toyota GR Supra, They Do Keep the Suspense
24 Nov 2021, 07:09 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Just like any other motoring discipline, drag racing has all sorts of quirks and features that can represent a mindful to the uninitiated. But no worries, there are also traditionally simple races for everyone’s entertainment. Never min...
Restored 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Shows Feisty Muscle Car Royalty Traits
23 Nov 2021, 14:54 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / One of the most successful GM nameplates, Chevrolet’s Chevelle, definitely gave all of its 1960s and 1970s competitors a run for their money. Especially when bulked up in SS (Super Sport) form. They say that second-generation Chevy Chev...
Ford F-250 Tremor Becomes Even More Hugely Capable on 4.5'' Pintop Lift and 38s
23 Nov 2021, 14:22 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / One can accuse Detroit’s Blue Oval of many faults, but the inability to create hugely capable trucks isn’t among them. Just take a look at the Raptor series. Or have a swing out in the desert and around town in a Super Duty. The F...
Slammed Mercedes-Benz S 580 Rides on Full Brushed D100s as Classy Silver Arrow
23 Nov 2021, 13:22 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Ever since the seventh-generation W223 S-Class has joined the Mercedes-Benz range, we have seen it become a darling of the American customization culture. With help from experts, of course. With clients as diverse as Kim Kardashian or the van...
Tesla Model “3.5” Touring Gives Us Elegantly Integrated CGI Food for Thought
23 Nov 2021, 12:40 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Some automotive pixel masters are hooked solely on certain aspects of their imaginative realm. While this CGI expert might easily fit the description as well, he adds enough twists and turns to make everything feel refreshingly stylish. Certa...
Quad-Finned, Wide 1957 Chevy Tri-Five Has “NASCAR Steroids,” Exposed Twin-Turbo LS
23 Nov 2021, 11:38 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Tri-Five 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevrolet passenger cars were quite revolutionary in their heyday. So, they rightfully spawned a mind-blowing cult following both among vintage car collectors and Hot Rod enthusiasts. Naturally, everyone has thei...
Porsche Panamera “Truck” With Old-School Steelies Drops a Virtual Sight to Behold
23 Nov 2021, 10:53 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Porsche likes to play the “don’t call it” something game with its Panamera series. It has a five-door liftback that shouldn’t be considered a sedan, as well as a Shooting Brake that’s not to be mistaken for a station w...
Revived Mid-Engine Cadillac XLR Based on C8 'Vette Convertible Feels so Eerily Legit
23 Nov 2021, 10:19 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / In this automotive day and age, just about anything revolves around crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. With a few remarkably successful exceptions, though. Such as the mid-engine C8 generation of “America’s sports car.” With full...
Kandy Gold Whipple LS Chevy Caprice Classic on 30s Looks Autumn-Faded
23 Nov 2021, 09:17 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Chevrolet renamed its full-sized Caprice to “Caprice Classic” during the 1973-1974 model year changeover of the second generation. But this fully customized Box Chevy most surely belongs to the 1980s third-generation craziness. He...
Digital Toyota FJ Cruiser Is Ready to Give Broncos a Run for Their Off-Road Money
23 Nov 2021, 08:31 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Although its legendary models remain entirely successful, it seems the fanbase knows very well about Toyota’s odd decisions. Like the ones that involved sending to car Valhalla the quirky yet lovable FJ Cruiser or retiring the Land Cruiser fr...
2021 Acura TLX Type S Drags and Rolls Kia K5 GT, One Gets Blown Away... Until It Doesn't
23 Nov 2021, 07:47 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Once known as the Optima, the fifth-generation South Korean mid-size car is now badged as K5 everywhere. And it’s a good thing. Meanwhile, Acura’s TLX has just reached its second generation, and it’s the newer rival to prove itsel...
Jacked-Up 1982 Jeep CJ-7 Jamboree 4x4 Looks Ready for Scouting the Entire World
22 Nov 2021, 14:37 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Usually, a Jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts – at a national or international level. But for Jeep, it was the best way to designate with help from a commemorative edition the rarest CJ-7 build in existence. Let’s go back alm...
2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Turns Lambo EVO Impersonator With Specific Target
22 Nov 2021, 13:50 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Bugatti’s mid-engine Chiron hypercar monster has been in production since 2016. And if that were any other automaker or a “normal” supercar, it would certainly need a refresh by now. But the real and virtual worlds have different ...