Daniel Patrascu
18,662 ARTICLES
Personal motto:
"I truly believe men and fish can coexist peacefully" – George W. Bush
Following several years off the grid, Daniel is back at autoevolution, and seeing how the great crisis of the past decade made the auto industry boring, he grew bored with it too, so he slowly shifted his focus to custom cars, custom motorcycles, and other weird stuff. He also loves ranting about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
During his time at autoevolution, Daniel put his name on more news articles, coverstories, auto guides, reviews, and editorials than we care count. To slow him down a bit, he was given more responsibilities not long ago, so he is now also in charge with coordinating the editorial team on autoevolution.com.
Long time ago, Daniel also translated Arthur C. Clarke’s novel “The Fountains of Paradise” to Romanian for Paladin Publishing.
Mercedes Benz A-Klasse, Zytec's Electric Version
9 Sep 2009, 10:32 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / If the original manufacturer can't do it, it doesn't mean others can't...Zytek, a British engineering company, decided to take a Mercedes Benz A-Klasse and give it an extensive heart transplant. The car was stripped of it's orig...
Chrysler Grand Voyager Begins Production Windsor, Canada
9 Sep 2009, 10:08 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / American manufacturer Chrysler announced today it has begun assembly of the Grand Voyager model at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada. The people-mover built here will take to both the domestic and international markets, as the facility's la...
Opel - Wir Leben Autos, Unveiled in Frankfurt
9 Sep 2009, 09:08 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is not only the perfect place for presenting the fall car collection, but also the right place for the troubled manufacturers of 2009 to make their new entrace. Opel, the (still?) unwanted GM child, will make full u...
16 Suits Filed Against Toyota
9 Sep 2009, 08:25 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / As we told you over the past weekend, Dallas attorney Todd Tracy was asked by a former Toyota attorney, Dimitrios Biller, to re-file 15 lawsuits against the Japanese automaker on the grounds of rollover, frontal-impact and rear-impact complaints. T...
Tesla Munich Store Opens on September 10
9 Sep 2009, 08:16 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The second European beach-head that Tesla has on the Old Continent will open in Munich tomorrow, September 10, just five days ahead of the official release of the new tesla Roadster sport. The Munich store is the first in mainland Europe, following...
E-Car TM, Another City, Plain EV
9 Sep 2009, 07:43 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Despite the fact that EVs are the most likely "cars of the future", we can't help but to be amazed of the carbon-copy, battery-powered vehicles avalanche, announced by manufacturers worldwide. The latest is Electric Car Company. T...
BMW Z10 Supercar, Still in the Works?
9 Sep 2009, 07:33 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Although for the better half of the year the BMW Z10 supercar has slipped the public eye, due to the industry excitement and turmoil of past months, it would appear the German manufacturer still plans on rolling out the supercar. According to B...
2010 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Photos Leaked
9 Sep 2009, 06:31 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Perhaps one of the most advertised vehicles in the Mercedes stable, the SLS AMG, has finally got rid of its ugly disguise in a batch of leaked photos, prior to its official entry at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. And what a sight it is... The SLS...
Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4l MultiAir Start/Stop Released
8 Sep 2009, 15:21 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / As announced back in June, Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo launched today the 1.4l MultiAir engine choice for the MiTo. The engine will be offered with three different power levels - 105 hp, 135 hp and 170 hp – for prices yet to be announced....
Mercedes Sales Still Down in August
8 Sep 2009, 14:24 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The third German manufacturer to post its sales for August follows the trend of both BMW and Audi and reports a 13 percent decrease in volume, when compared to August 2008. Mercedes sold a total of 73,200 vehicles, compared to 84,400 last year. The...
Fisker Karma, German Debut at IAA
8 Sep 2009, 13:59 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / What is probably the most expensive plug-in hybrid vehicle out there, the Fisker Karma, will make its German debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. The September appearance of the Karma follows the public driving debut of the PHEV, which took place...
Tasmania Goes the smart Way
8 Sep 2009, 13:27 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The Tasmanian State Government announced today it has purchased the first smart vehicles to be added to its operating fleet. The cars, to be used by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, are hoped to represent an example for ot...
Citroen Concept Teaser Released, IAA Surprise in the Making
8 Sep 2009, 12:39 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / French manufacturer Citroen today released a teaser image of a yet unnamed concept it will unveil at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. Although very close-fisted with the details on the new release, the French are promising "a big surprise." ...
Audi August Sales, Almost Level
8 Sep 2009, 11:41 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / German manufacturer Audi is as close as it can of posting a positive sales figure, when compared to 2008. The group reported a drop of only 2.7 percent in August, when compared the the same month of last 2008. Even if, some may argue, last August s...
BMW August Sales, Down 9.7 Percent...
8 Sep 2009, 10:32 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / ...yet this is a good news. The German manufacturer proudly and hopefully announced that heir sales' decline have begun to slow down and, for the fifth consecutive month, the decline is slower than the previous 30 day period. “We are...
Ford's Broadmeadows Plant Turns 50
8 Sep 2009, 09:55 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The factory considered to be the birthplace of the Ford Falcon, Ford's Australian Broadmeadows assembly facility is celebrating it's 50th year of existence. And as with any worth-while anniversary, the plant management, together with the ...
Tengzhong Wants Hummer, Despite Regulatory Rejection
8 Sep 2009, 09:19 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The courtship between Chinese manufacturer Tengzhong and GM's last standing "bad asset," Hummer, continues, apparently without resolution. In the latest development, the Chinese said they are still interested in taking over Hummer, d...
2010 Mazda CX-9 Goes Down Under in September
8 Sep 2009, 09:17 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Japanese manufacturer Mazda announced today its newest addition to the range, the CX-9, will be available in Australia starting this month. To mark the launch of the facelift, Mazda will also add a Grand Touring model to the crossover range. &q...
2010 Volvo C30 Official Details and Photos
8 Sep 2009, 08:18 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Swedish manufacturer Volvo released today details and photos of the new generation C30 "the most playful and spontaneous model" (some may call it ugly...). Still, the new C30 is here, with some interesting changes here and there. &quo...
Ron Bloom, the New Manufacturing Tzar
8 Sep 2009, 07:37 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / The Obama administration appointed Treasury Department official, Ron Bloom, as the man in charge of the country's manufacturing sector "road to recovery". Bloom will also maintain his role as senior advisor to Treasury Secretary...