autoevolution
 

Mircea Panait

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Personal motto:

"If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

Senior Contributor
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Little did he knew back then, but a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO is what sparked Mircea’s interest for cars when he was just a kid. Despite studying mathematics and informatics in high school and economics in university, Mircea turned his passion for all things automotive into a job.
 
Interning for Top Gear was his first foray in automotive journalism, and not long after that, a full-time position was opened for Mircea to seal the deal. Just about three years later, autoevolution became his new home.
 
Especially interested in American ponies and muscle cars, Mircea also finds the Japanese domestic market appealing thanks to the quirkiness of kei cars. Full-size pickups like the Ram 1500 and off-roaders such as the Ford Ranger Raptor and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon are much to his liking as well.
 
A self-described master of pasta and an avid CCG player, Mircea’s past-time activities include playing his Epiphone Les Paul Special Vintage Edition electric guitar, discovering the wonders of the Carpathian mountains by foot, and driving to the Black Sea to get a well-deserved tan.
Celebrities Choose the World's Greatest Sports Coupes Ever Made
Celebrities Choose the World's Greatest Sports Coupes Ever Made

14 Apr 2014, 14:28 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / For its newest exhibit, the Petersen Automotive Museum invited twelve celebrities, ranging from rock music legends, critically acclaimed film directors, actors and world renown car collector, to guest curate one sports coupe each. The World's ...

 
China-Bound Ford Escort Spotted Without Camouflage
China-Bound Ford Escort Spotted Without Camouflage

14 Apr 2014, 13:28 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Even though the Beijing Auto Show will open its doors to the pulic on April 20, the Chinese carparazzi managed to capture the all-new Ford Escort without camouflage. Aesthetic wise, the vehicle is virtually the same as the Escort Concept unveiled b...

 
Stefano Domenicali Quits Scuderia Ferrari, to Be Replaced by Marco Mattiacci
Stefano Domenicali Quits Scuderia Ferrari, to Be Replaced by Marco Mattiacci

14 Apr 2014, 12:23 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / According to various Italian publications, Ferrari's F1 Team Principal has resigned from his position with immediate effect. Domenicali has been the Scuderia's boss since 2008, when he replaced Jean Todt. However, he only managed to help ...

 
First 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Raises $1 Million for Charity
First 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Raises $1 Million for Charity

14 Apr 2014, 11:33 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The first retail production 2015 Chevrolet Corvette in Z06 guise crossed the block for a cool $1 million, the lucky winning bidder being none other than NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick. The enormous sum of money will go to the renovation of the Bar...

 
Second-Gen Volvo XC90 to Go On Sale in 2015
Second-Gen Volvo XC90 to Go On Sale in 2015

14 Apr 2014, 09:48 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The future generation XC90 carries the weight of the world on its shoulders by being Volvo's first all-new model from head to toe in eons and the Swedish brand's all-new design language template. Volvo already unveiled all three concepts ...

 
2015 Chevrolet Cruze Gets Minor Styling and Tech Upgrades <span>· Video</span>
2015 Chevrolet Cruze Gets Minor Styling and Tech Upgrades · Video

13 Apr 2014, 18:38 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Set to be officially unveiled at the New York International Auto Show on April 16, the updated Cruze saloon is Chevy's last hurrah before the debut of an all-new generation model, which will be launched in a couple of years time. Highlight new...

 
Here's the All-New Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro
Here's the All-New Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro

13 Apr 2014, 17:13 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Slated to arrive in European showrooms early this summer, the new-gen Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro commercial van has some very big shoes to fill when you take into account the success of the 13-year-old current generation. The old model has its underpinni...

 
NY-Bound Nissan Rogue Showcases Smart Rearview Mirror
NY-Bound Nissan Rogue Showcases Smart Rearview Mirror

12 Apr 2014, 19:03 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Following in the footsteps of a technological feature first previewed on Audi's 2012 R18 race car, the Japanese manufacturer takes it up a notch by implementing digital rearview mirror technology in one of its production models. Nissan U.S.A. ...

 
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible Heading for New York Auto Show
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible Heading for New York Auto Show

12 Apr 2014, 18:53 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / It turns out that the mysterious new Corvette variant Chevrolet told it will debut in the Big Apple is the drop-top version of the 2015 Corvette Z06. Powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 with 625 horsepower and 635 ft-lb (860 Nm) of torque, t...

 
Land Rover Defender 90 Gets Restomodded by Icon <span>· Video</span>
Land Rover Defender 90 Gets Restomodded by Icon · Video

11 Apr 2014, 21:53 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Defender has always been the sweetheart of off-road enthusiasts all over the world because it's just so damn easy to customize it to your liking. Aftermarket accessories can be found virtually anywhere and quite a few of them are not that ...

 
Take a Sneak Peek at Ford's Transit Skyliner Concept
Take a Sneak Peek at Ford's Transit Skyliner Concept

11 Apr 2014, 16:53 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / In addition to the 2015 Focus four-door sedan and Focus Electric, Ford's stand at the New York Auto Show will also feature a Transit-based concept with gentlemen's club on wheels credentials. The ultra-luxury van is a joint effort from Fo...

 
Happy 10th Anniversary, Ford GT!
Happy 10th Anniversary, Ford GT!

11 Apr 2014, 14:48 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Ten years ago, an American sports car legend was reborn in Michigan. Of course, we're talking about the Ford GT, the modern interpretation of Ford's four-time Le Mans-winning racer, the GT40. Only 4,038 units were manufactured between 200...

 
GM Ignition Switch Saga Continues with Newly Identified Lock Cylinder Problem
GM Ignition Switch Saga Continues with Newly Identified Lock Cylinder Problem

11 Apr 2014, 12:13 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Things just went from worse to worser for General Motors: the Detroit giant recently informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that no less than 2.2 million ignition lock cylinders from older model cars in the United State...

 
Jeep Unveils Six New Concepts Ahead of Easter Safari
Jeep Unveils Six New Concepts Ahead of Easter Safari

10 Apr 2014, 19:18 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Two days before the start of the 48th Moab Easter Jeep Safari, the American manufacturer and Mopar debuted no less than six off-road ready concepts. Showcasing the synergy between Jeep Performance Parts and Mopar, this array of unique vehicles make...

 
All-New 2014 Iveco Daily Breaks Cover
All-New 2014 Iveco Daily Breaks Cover

10 Apr 2014, 16:48 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The third generation of Italy's favorite workhorse is ready to take the European commercial vehicle market by storm. Offering improved capacity, more economical power units than its predecessor and funky styling cues, the latest generation Dai...

 
"American Nitro" Drag-Racing Classic, Now Digitally Remastered on DVD
"American Nitro" Drag-Racing Classic, Now Digitally Remastered on DVD

10 Apr 2014, 15:23 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If you're the kind of guy that likes to kick back on his sofa on a Sunday afternoon watching vintage drag racing footage with a cold brew in his hand, you must see this movie as soon as possible. Why? Because American Nitro is a seriously...

 
Final Historic Corvette Pulled From Museum Sinkhole
Final Historic Corvette Pulled From Museum Sinkhole

10 Apr 2014, 13:53 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Almost two months after the National Corvette Museum floor sunk into the ground, swallowing up eight valuable collection Corvettes, we're happy to report that the No. 8 vehicle has been rescued. Unfortunately, the 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 recen...

 
"Fast & Furious" Theme Park Ride to Debut in 2015
"Fast & Furious" Theme Park Ride to Debut in 2015

10 Apr 2014, 12:33 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Let's face it: Fast & Furious isn't the best street racing-themed action movie saga out there, but it rallied a great deal of car and non-car people over the years in liking pretty much anything with four wheels and a powerful engine ...

 
Cadillac and Buick Top J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study
Cadillac and Buick Top J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study

10 Apr 2014, 08:58 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / General Motors hit it big with the latest customer satisfaction J.D. Power study, Cadillac getting the highest rating among luxury brands, while Buick topped the mass market brands category. The 2014 edition of the Customer Service Index is, as we&...

 
2014 Ram Power Wagon to Debut at NY Auto Show <span>· Video</span>
2014 Ram Power Wagon to Debut at NY Auto Show · Video

9 Apr 2014, 16:38 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Ram Power Wagon is back! The latest version of America's first mass-produced civilian 4x4 truck will be officially unveiled at next week's New York International Auto Show. Introduced over sixty years ago, the Power Wagon legend conti...

 

Stories by Mircea Panait