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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.
Aston Martin Recalls DBX for Loose Battery Fuse Box Cables, 2021 to 2024 Models Affected
Aston Martin Recalls DBX for Loose Battery Fuse Box Cables, 2021 to 2024 Models Affected

10 Apr 2024, 16:14 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The DBX has been hit with its third safety recall in the span of a week. It all started with potentially loose front propeller shaft fasteners, then Aston Martin issued a campaign for oil cooler hoses that may burst due to a change in the hose wind...

 
2025 Toyota 4Runner Leaked: Tacoma-Based SUV Goes Turbo I4, Hybrid Setup Develops 326 HP
2025 Toyota 4Runner Leaked: Tacoma-Based SUV Goes Turbo I4, Hybrid Setup Develops 326 HP

9 Apr 2024, 21:03 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Prior to the public unveiling at 7:15 pm Pacific Daylight Time, the peeps at Forbes published – then immediately took down – their story on the 2025 Toyota 4Runner. Big ouchie, but it is what it is. Everyone and their dog expected Ta...

 
2025 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Continues Testing, Could Pack Over 800 HP
2025 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Continues Testing, Could Pack Over 800 HP

9 Apr 2024, 20:03 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The carparazzi have recently spotted a UK-plated example of the Aston Martin DB12's punchier sibling. Believed to be called Vanquish rather than DBS Superleggera, the V12-engined bruiser is also rumored to develop in excess of 800 ps (789 hp)....

 
Audi Recalls Certain Models Over Improperly Manufactured Control Module
Audi Recalls Certain Models Over Improperly Manufactured Control Module

9 Apr 2024, 19:00 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Volkswagen Group of America has identified an issue affecting 91 vehicles from the premium-oriented Audi brand. As it happens, the passenger seat occupant detection system control module pins were not soldered properly to the circuit board. The ...

 
2025 Acura ADX Confirmed With Forced Induction, But What Could It Be?
2025 Acura ADX Confirmed With Forced Induction, But What Could It Be?

9 Apr 2024, 18:12 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Honda-owned Acura will launch a new sport utility vehicle in 2025, the fourth in the brand's lineup after the RDX, MDX, and the zero-emission ZDX. The question is, where does it slot in the lineup? Before answering that question, let's...

 
2024 Citroen e-C3 Gains Internal Combustion Sibling With Optional Mild-Hybrid Assistance
2024 Citroen e-C3 Gains Internal Combustion Sibling With Optional Mild-Hybrid Assistance

9 Apr 2024, 15:40 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The fourth-generation C3 was introduced in October 2023 for the 2024 model year as the e-C3 electric supermini. Citroen has recently added the internal combustion-engined C3 to the lineup, which is rocking both ICE and MHEV setups. More crossove...

 
Aston Martin DBX707 Recalled Over Oil Cooler Hose That May Burst
Aston Martin DBX707 Recalled Over Oil Cooler Hose That May Burst

9 Apr 2024, 14:07 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Today's most powerful V8-engined Aston Martin has been hit with a safety recall. As it happens, certain models produced for 2023 and 2024 feature oil cooler hoses that may burst due to a manufacturing issue. As per documents filed by the Gaydo...

 
Aston Martin Recalls DBX SUV Over Potentially Loose Front Propeller Shaft Fasteners
Aston Martin Recalls DBX SUV Over Potentially Loose Front Propeller Shaft Fasteners

8 Apr 2024, 20:06 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Aston Martin The Americas identified a problem with a handful of early DBX sport utility vehicles. In production since July 2020 for the 2021 model year, the DBX hails from St Athan in South Wales. The factory experienced a shortage of parts bet...

 
Mazda CX-90 Races Toyota Grand Highlander and Ford Explorer ST, It's Over in 13.9 Seconds
Mazda CX-90 Races Toyota Grand Highlander and Ford Explorer ST, It's Over in 13.9 Seconds

6 Apr 2024, 21:54 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Three-row sport utility vehicles are ubiquitous in the United States of America. So ubiquitous that minivans are being steadily pushed out despite being more practical and lower priced than family-sized crossovers. But rather than harrumphing over ...

 
Q1 2024 Sales Report: Ford F-Series Is America's Favorite Large Truck Once Again
Q1 2024 Sales Report: Ford F-Series Is America's Favorite Large Truck Once Again

6 Apr 2024, 19:24 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Not surprising anyone, Ford continues to dominate America's full-size truck segment. During the past quarter, Dearborn's favorite son delivered 152,943 units of the F-Series, plus 3,268 heavy trucks. But compared to the first quarter of 2...

 
Kia Recalls Certain 2023 Forte Vehicles Over Improperly Welded Front Lower Control Arm
Kia Recalls Certain 2023 Forte Vehicles Over Improperly Welded Front Lower Control Arm

5 Apr 2024, 21:08 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Forte may be driving off into the sunset after model year 2024 in favor of the 2025 Kia K4, but as it happens, the South Korean automaker has identified an issue affecting a small number of 2023 models. According to documents published on the N...

 
Q1 2024 Sales Report: Toyota Tacoma Retains Mid-Size Truck Sales Crown Despite Big Drop
Q1 2024 Sales Report: Toyota Tacoma Retains Mid-Size Truck Sales Crown Despite Big Drop

5 Apr 2024, 19:53 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Tacoma finished 2023 with no fewer than 234,768 units delivered in the US market. However, the generational changeover means that sales nosedived big time in the first quarter of 2024. How big of a fall? Think 21,558 examples of the breed versus 53...

 
GM Recalls Certain 2023 Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon Trucks Over Assembly Process Issue
GM Recalls Certain 2023 Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon Trucks Over Assembly Process Issue

5 Apr 2024, 18:01 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Redesigned for model year 2023, the Colorado and Canyon midsizers have been hit with a safety recall concerning the front wheel hub bolts. More specifically, General Motors determined that 17 trucks may have been produced with overtightened bolts. ...

 
Jeep Cherokee Turn Signal Malfunction Prompts Recall, 12K Vehicles Affected
Jeep Cherokee Turn Signal Malfunction Prompts Recall, 12K Vehicles Affected

4 Apr 2024, 22:18 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Remember the Jeep Cherokee? FCA US LLC produced the last example of the breed at Belvidere Assembly Plant in February 2023, but as it happens, the Cherokee still is available to configure on Jeep's website. FCA US LLC has also issued a safety ...

 
Q1 2024 Sales Report: Ford Maverick Is America's Favorite Small Truck
Q1 2024 Sales Report: Ford Maverick Is America's Favorite Small Truck

4 Apr 2024, 21:06 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / At press time, only three pickup trucks intended for the US market feature unibody construction. And not surprising in the least, Ford continues to dominate this particular segment with the Maverick. The Dearborn-based automaker moved 39,890 units ...

 
Chrysler Recalls Pacifica and Voyager for Unintended Traction Control Deactivation
Chrysler Recalls Pacifica and Voyager for Unintended Traction Control Deactivation

4 Apr 2024, 20:06 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Otherwise known as electronic stability control, traction control became mandatory in the United States for the 2012 model year. Even though most vehicles allow the driver to disable this nanny, traction control shouldn't deactivate by itself ...

 
Ford Mustang Outsells Discontinued Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in Q1 2024
Ford Mustang Outsells Discontinued Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in Q1 2024

4 Apr 2024, 19:02 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The last pony car standing has wiped the floor with the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger, with Ford Motor Company posting 13,707 deliveries for the Mustang in the first quarter of 2024. Be that as it may, bear in mind that FoMoCo delivered...

 
Fisker Ocean Hit With Safety Probe Into Door Handle/Latch Failures
Fisker Ocean Hit With Safety Probe Into Door Handle/Latch Failures

4 Apr 2024, 18:02 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Los Angeles-based Fisker Inc. a new safety probe into the Ocean electric sport utility vehicle. As per documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 14 complaints allegin...

 
Barbie Would Be Proud: Jeep Wrangler Celebrates 4x4 Day 2024 With Tuscadero Paint Color
Barbie Would Be Proud: Jeep Wrangler Celebrates 4x4 Day 2024 With Tuscadero Paint Color

4 Apr 2024, 17:00 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Unleashed in April 2023, the 2024 model year Jeep Wrangler facelift has received a new paint color in the form of a rather audacious pink. Jeep enthusiasts may remember Tuscadero from previous model years, a color described by the American automake...

 
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Gets First Recall, 18K Vehicles Affected
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Gets First Recall, 18K Vehicles Affected

4 Apr 2024, 15:02 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Revealed in late 2023 for model year 2024, the fifth-generation Santa Fe has been hit with its first recall in the United States market. As per documents filed by Hyundai Motor America with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a soft...

 

Stories by Mircea Panait