Florin Amariei
1,621 ARTICLES
Personal motto:
It's better to die than to live without passion
Years passed and I found myself more and more in love with cars. It wasn`t about their speed or their looks. Heck, it wasn`t even about clout, but about the freedom they represented, the happiness they provided and the magnitude of options that were available to each and every type of driver.
After witnessing a lot of TV coverage for some of my favorite cars, I decided that it`s time to act on what I like. I started by watching random TV shows and ended up loving British presenters. I bought a lot of magazines and found out that I simply cannot ignore the shape of a Ferrari - especially a yellow one. That may the influence of my father who had a Fiat Tempra. Nowadays, I`m leaning towards enjoying a F-150 Raptor, rather than exploring the Riviera with a small car.
That being said, years of just reading, listening and watching turned into a passion for discovery. That is why I started to write about what I know, experience or find out to be interesting. After 5 years of news for print and online outlets, travels and a whole lot of test driving, I joined the autoevolution family to spread this passion and share relevant information.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Can Now Order the Alpine Sound System Upgrade
14 Feb 2024, 21:56 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / For most car owners, sound is a very subjective topic. We like different music and have various budgets, so the expectations vary wildly. But one thing almost anyone can agree on is that a good, even a mildly good, sound system is worth having. It ...
Mazda Ponders Launching Its Own Car Insurance
14 Feb 2024, 14:27 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Mazda is discreetly reinventing itself. The process started with the midsize CX-60, the crossover SUV with a six-cylinder in the front and a rear-wheel-drive drive bias. Many think the two-row vehicle previewed the BMW-ification of the Japanese bra...
Electrify America's Nightmare Has a Name: Meet IONNA, America's Ionity
12 Feb 2024, 18:54 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / When it comes to DC fast chargers, the more there are, the merrier. EV popularity is on the rise, which means more and more people will need access to electrons delivered as fast as possible. IONNA's launch is a good thing. Here's what yo...
Can't Charge an EV at Home, at Work, or for Free? Don't Buy One
10 Feb 2024, 22:16 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / It hurts to say this as a plug-in hybrid owner actively looking to embrace zero-emission mobility fully, but do not buy an all-electric vehicle if you don't have the means to charge at home overnight, at work during office hours, or for free a...
Full Circle Already? Experienced Auto Journalist Returns to a Diesel-Powered Daily Driver
10 Feb 2024, 00:46 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Last year's best-selling car worldwide was an all-electric vehicle – the Tesla Model Y. It has never been clearer that the popularity of EVs is on the rise in the northern hemisphere and Australia. Even people living deep in rural areas ...
Rivian's Cheapest R1T and R1S Yet Come With New Batteries and Sweet Lease Deals
9 Feb 2024, 07:41 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Rivian debuted two new battery options: the Standard and Standard+ pack. They are available for both the all-electric pickup truck and SUV. These energy storage units can only be paired with the in-house developed Enduro drive units. Here's th...
Report: EVs Depreciate Faster Than ICE-Powered Luxury Cars
8 Feb 2024, 21:07 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Last year, we learned that the all-electric Audi e-tron GT started having a rough time in the used car market. Its posher half-sibling, the Porsche Taycan, was also heading onto the same path. Now, the data couldn't be clearer: EV prices enter...
This 2025 Porsche Taycan Spec Is the Dreamiest We Could Come Up With "On a Budget"
7 Feb 2024, 20:45 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / The all-new Taycan represents a nice, clean, and inspired evolution of the sports car that became the Stuttgart-based brand's first (contemporary) all-electric vehicle in late 2019. We take a shot at designing a version that might look like yo...
France Declared Total War on Big and Heavy Cars. Should the US Follow Its Lead?
7 Feb 2024, 08:54 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Today, most European nations have a green flashing beacon on their head. European Union (EU) member states are making a strong push against global warming, which upset farmers quite badly. That's why they started protesting in January. But tho...
2025 Porsche Taycan Facelift Could Make Range Anxiety a Thing of the Past
4 Feb 2024, 21:55 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Porsche already told us that the new Taycan's real-world range on a single charge is approximately 365 miles (587 kilometers). Although the Germans are known for being fond of precise measurements, we can't fully trust an automaker. After...
The US Needs More DC Fast Chargers ASAP
3 Feb 2024, 21:57 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Data doesn't lie. EV ownership and interest are on the rise, and so are those looking for a dispenser that will recharge their zero-emission vehicles' batteries in half an hour tops. That means some companies, the federal government, and ...
If You Think Supercar Buyers Have It Easy, Think Again
3 Feb 2024, 17:52 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / If you're a gearhead, you know that money does indeed buy happiness. Nothing compares to that crisp new car smell or the feeling of seeing your custom ride come out of the shop. But if money is no object and you are enamored with pricey high-p...
Tesla Owner Wears Apple Vision Pro While Driving With FSD Beta Turned On, Police Stop Him
3 Feb 2024, 13:15 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Using a spatial computer capable of impressive things while sitting behind the steering wheel can sound interesting at first, but as soon as you dive into the details… It becomes clear that it should never be attempted, not even when the car...
Digital Side Mirrors Become Vexing Issue for Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owners
1 Feb 2024, 22:33 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / European countries are more permissive when it comes to automotive innovations. That's why drivers living over the pond can enjoy some of the latest technologies before Americans. Take laser headlights as an example. But, just like Tesla owner...
2025 Ford Explorer Unveiled With Massive New Grille and Better Tech, Available Spring 2024
1 Feb 2024, 15:16 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Ford's brand-new family-oriented Explorer has been renewed. It looks a bit more contemporary and ferocious than before, boasts better onboard technology, and comes in reimagined trims, making choosing the ideal spec much easier. Here's wh...
Ford Discreetly Launches Its First-Ever Digital Purchase Platform
1 Feb 2024, 01:18 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Ford is officially joining the online sales party. Although looking at inventory online has been a thing for quite some time, what the Blue Oval is trying to do here with "Ford Finder" is adopt a modified version of Tesla's direct sa...
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's V8-Powered Range Rover LWB Is Up for Grabs
31 Jan 2024, 22:55 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / Imagine telling your friends, family, and work colleagues that you are not only driving a fully loaded diesel-hungry Range Rover but also the very one that used to be Queen Elizabeth II's official ride. The only real disadvantage is that it�...
2025 BMW 4 Series' Laser Taillights Are (Fortunately) an Optional Extra
31 Jan 2024, 19:16 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / BMW's latest 4 Series looks impressively good even without any options added. It's an elegant evolution, one that retains the beaver-teeth grille and the body shape but refines everything else. An unexpected but welcomed addition is the &...
Your EV's Flat Li-Ion 16V Battery May Explode if Charged Improperly, Firefighters Warn
31 Jan 2024, 17:37 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / A Cary, North Carolina-based Tesla owner tried to recharge the EV's low-voltage 16V Li-Ion battery. Unfortunately, they didn't abide by the manufacturer's rules, and it exploded shortly after they plugged it in. Fortunately, firefigh...
All-New Rear-Wheel-Drive Polestar 4 Costs As Much as a Tesla Model Y Performance in the UK
31 Jan 2024, 11:09 UTC · By: Florin Amariei / The Polestar 4 configurator is online in Australia and most European countries. Americans and Canadians aren't yet allowed to play with the online tool. However, we get to see the brand's pricing strategy before things become official for...