autoevolution
 

Cristian Agatie

Contributor
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As a child, he grew up among tractors and heavy machinery and was covered in grease from tip to toe most of the time. It was a tractor that he drove for the first time and when asked what he’d become, he candidly replied: “tractor operator”. Later on, he drove all kinds of vehicles, from heavy trucks to off-roaders, all outside of public roads until he got his driving license.

He did not become a tractor operator, as you can tell already. Instead, he got interested in journalism and pursued a career finding stories for local newspapers and radio stations. But the first love is never forgotten, so when presented with the chance, he seized it and became a motor journalist in 1995.

Having found the perfect job to mix his passion for cars and journalism, he couldn’t help exploring other areas, like science, computers, and mobile devices. He took stints working for a computer magazine for a couple of years, and it was then that he had his first contact with new media. But cars always remained his passion, so he returned to motor journalism when Auto Bild started its local branch. Later, he became an internet junkie, and moving online felt only natural.

In the meantime, he also became obsessed with technology, electric vehicles, batteries, and whatnot, so he writes a lot about those. He found autoevolution a fertile ground for exploration and so he discovered his passion for RVs and campers, but also solar panels and new energy solutions.
Lucid Air Grand Touring Is the Fastest-Charging EV on the Market, What About Tesla?
Lucid Air Grand Touring Is the Fastest-Charging EV on the Market, What About Tesla?

16 Jun 2023, 14:33 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Having the biggest range is not always important if replenishing a massive battery takes a lot of time. Thankfully, the Lucid Air Grand Touring has not only the highest range but also the fastest charging speed on the market. In 20 minutes of charg...

 
The Mystery of FSD Beta Software Builds Installed on Non-US Vehicles Is Finally Solved
The Mystery of FSD Beta Software Builds Installed on Non-US Vehicles Is Finally Solved

16 Jun 2023, 11:37 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Although it sought to reduce software fragmentation, Tesla has, in fact, gone in the opposite direction. There are currently many software builds, FSD and non-FSD, some specifically tailored to a small number of cars. Still, there are hints that a ...

 
Rivian Shipped the First Manual Tonneau Covers to R1T Owners Who Ordered Them
Rivian Shipped the First Manual Tonneau Covers to R1T Owners Who Ordered Them

16 Jun 2023, 09:57 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / After Rivian suspended the automatic tonneau cover option for the R1T, owners were encouraged to order the manual part instead. It wasn't available immediately, and people complained about the long wait time. Rivian has finally shipped the pro...

 
The EX30 Could Become Volvo's Best-Selling Car and Its Most Profitable Yet
The EX30 Could Become Volvo's Best-Selling Car and Its Most Profitable Yet

16 Jun 2023, 08:16 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / After several months of teasers and suspense, Volvo unveiled the EX30 small crossover on June 7, with a US selling price of $35,000. Despite its affordable price, Volvo claims that EX30 will become the most profitable model in the lineup. As the...

 
Buick To Launch the Stunning Electra E4 Crossover Coupe on June 19
Buick To Launch the Stunning Electra E4 Crossover Coupe on June 19

15 Jun 2023, 18:30 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Buick will launch its second electric vehicle based on GM's Ultium platform in China on June 19. The Buick Electra E4 is a crossover coupe that looks almost identical to the stunning Electra-X concept that debuted in China last summer. Alth...

 
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan Shows Off New Cockpit and Class-Leading Technical Data
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan Shows Off New Cockpit and Class-Leading Technical Data

15 Jun 2023, 16:52 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Volkswagen is fine-tuning the 2024 Tiguan, which will arrive next year with combustion and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The photo session revealed the new cockpit integrating the latest-generation infotainment system, which Volkswagen claims solves ...

 
Mercedes Elevates In-Car Voice Control to New Levels, ChatGPT Getting Integrated Into MBUX
Mercedes Elevates In-Car Voice Control to New Levels, ChatGPT Getting Integrated Into MBUX

15 Jun 2023, 15:39 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Mercedes-Benz will make its MBUX voice assistant Hey Mercedes a lot more competent by integrating ChatGPT via Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. Those who wish to test the new intelligent voice assistant can sign up starting June 16, provided they own...

 
VinFast Will Pay Owners Up to $300 Every Time Their Car Breaks Down
VinFast Will Pay Owners Up to $300 Every Time Their Car Breaks Down

15 Jun 2023, 14:07 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Vietnamese EV maker VinFast announced a "special after-sales policy" that grants owners compensations of up the $300 in case their cars have problems. Depending on the issues, VinFast owners may be eligible for a service voucher or cash w...

 
Tesla Offering Three Months Free Supercharging To Model 3 Inventory Vehicles
Tesla Offering Three Months Free Supercharging To Model 3 Inventory Vehicles

15 Jun 2023, 10:55 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla continues what appears to be a Model 3 sell-off in North America, with generous discounts on new cars in the inventory. It also threw three months of free unlimited Supercharging to those buying a new Model 3 from inventory by June 30. Tes...

 
Chevrolet Stops Replacing 2020–2022 Bolt EV Fiery Batteries, Offers Diagnostics Tool
Chevrolet Stops Replacing 2020–2022 Bolt EV Fiery Batteries, Offers Diagnostics Tool

15 Jun 2023, 09:05 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Chevrolet notified 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt owners that they no longer replace the battery packs as part of the battery fire recall. Instead, the carmaker offered to install a software diagnostics tool to monitor the battery. As you'd expect, ...

 
Volkswagen's State-of-the-Art Aerodynamics Made the ID.7 an Efficiency Champion
Volkswagen's State-of-the-Art Aerodynamics Made the ID.7 an Efficiency Champion

14 Jun 2023, 17:43 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / When Volkswagen launched the ID.7 on April 17, it wowed everybody with a claimed range of 435 miles, or 700 km, according to the European cycle WLTP. Now, the German carmaker explained how it fine-tuned the ID.7's aerodynamics to achieve that ...

 
Tesla Attending 2023 Shenzhen Auto Show, Might Showcase Refreshed Model 3
Tesla Attending 2023 Shenzhen Auto Show, Might Showcase Refreshed Model 3

14 Jun 2023, 16:38 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla will again have a presence at a Chinese auto show after the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show started with a dramatic event. The American EV maker will attend the 2023 Shenzhen Auto Show on June 16, and rumor has it that the refreshed Model 3 could be ...

 
Tesla Semi Confined to Small-Series Production Due to Battery-Supply Constraints
Tesla Semi Confined to Small-Series Production Due to Battery-Supply Constraints

14 Jun 2023, 12:16 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Last December, Tesla delivered the first Semi trucks to PepsiCo three years later than planned. Tesla Semi is still produced in limited numbers, and Musk explained recently that he expects this to continue until the end of next year. The reason? Th...

 
Hyundai Ioniq 7 Prototype Spied With SEVEN Concept Silhouette and Kia EV9 Technology
Hyundai Ioniq 7 Prototype Spied With SEVEN Concept Silhouette and Kia EV9 Technology

14 Jun 2023, 10:32 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / The first prototype of the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7 shows a distinct silhouette compared to its sister Kia EV9. Hyundai always aimed to be more elegant, and the curved roofline emphasizes that while preserving most of the SEVEN concept's desig...

 
Pre-Production Tesla Cybertruck in Camo Wrap Spotted in Palo Alto Looks Sick
Pre-Production Tesla Cybertruck in Camo Wrap Spotted in Palo Alto Looks Sick

14 Jun 2023, 08:25 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / The Tesla Cybertruck production start appears imminent as a pre-production truck was spotted wearing a weird camo wrap in Palo Alto. The truck was recorded exiting a drive-thru In-N-Out restaurant, which is some sort of a tradition, according to El...

 
2024 Polestar 2 Comes With More Features and Improved Range To Justify Small Price Bump
2024 Polestar 2 Comes With More Features and Improved Range To Justify Small Price Bump

13 Jun 2023, 19:18 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Polestar is one of the less conventional EV brands that seduced the public with its unique style. Polestar 2, the brand's bestseller, is competing with the Tesla Model 3 for the hearts and wallets of American customers. The Swedish electric se...

 
Is Volkswagen Planning To Bring Back the Beetle With an Electric Powertrain?
Is Volkswagen Planning To Bring Back the Beetle With an Electric Powertrain?

13 Jun 2023, 17:03 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Volkswagen wants to become a love brand and thinks the shortest path is featuring its electric models in a Netflix animation movie. Among other Volkswagen EVs, the movie features a Beetle concept, and people wonder whether this previews a new EV in...

 
CATL Launches Swappable Battery Service for Heavy-Duty Trucks, and It Makes Sense
CATL Launches Swappable Battery Service for Heavy-Duty Trucks, and It Makes Sense

13 Jun 2023, 15:14 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Swappable batteries are part of a trend that, like fashion, comes and goes. Some say they don't make sense, while others claim it's a better solution than wasting time at a charger. CATL is firmly in the latter group as it unveiled a batt...

 
Tesla Software Update Brings All-Camera Feed Preview and Other Undocumented Features
Tesla Software Update Brings All-Camera Feed Preview and Other Undocumented Features

13 Jun 2023, 10:51 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Although its release notes don't promise anything groundbreaking, the 2023.20.4.1 update is full of surprises. We've talked about the ability to track tire wear, but there are other undocumented changes to Tesla EVs. For instance, drivers...

 
Chevrolet Bolt Could Return as an Affordable Ultium-Based EV, or Not
Chevrolet Bolt Could Return as an Affordable Ultium-Based EV, or Not

12 Jun 2023, 18:41 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / GM CEO Mary Barra always thought that success in the EV market could only be achieved by selling an affordable EV. With the demise of the Chevrolet Bolt EV later this year, the Chevy Equinox EV will take over, although Chevrolet could offer an even...

 

Stories by Cristian Agatie