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Sebastian Toma

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Personal motto:

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

Senior Contributor
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Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. He cannot put a finger on what started it all, but it was there, and it grew day by day. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver).

It all started with him pointing at cars on the street and asking what make and model they were. Sebastian couldn't wait to be tall enough to see over their steering wheel and be allowed to drive them.

When was ready to hit the road, Sebastian was left without a potential first car after his family's '72 Mercedes-Benz was rolled by his father. While the early '70s sedan proved unexpectedly safe, Sebastian was left without a ride, so he took various jobs and saved up for an E30 BMW 3 Series. Months later, he got his dream job – writing about cars for a local website while he was getting a bachelor's degree in Journalism.

Fourteen years had passed since Sebastian started writing about cars and motorcycles, and his job took him behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles, as well as through some of the most important local publications.

Just before returning to autoevolution, he was the editor-in-chief of the country's most-read car magazine and its website. Sebastian took on the challenge and started writing for us again, so sit back and enjoy the read!
More Electric Axles on the Way - A Look at the Tech Your Next Car Might Have
More Electric Axles on the Way - A Look at the Tech Your Next Car Might Have

24 Mar 2016, 16:53 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / At the beginning of this month, ZF showcased its new electric drive system and announced that volume production would start in 2018. While overlooked, the technology brings a modular approach to electric axle drive. The ZF solution is suitable ...

 
Toyota Celebrates Corolla's 50th Anniversary, Launches Special Edition
Toyota Celebrates Corolla's 50th Anniversary, Launches Special Edition

24 Mar 2016, 13:14 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Someone is planning a big party at Toyota, as the model recognized internationally as “The World’s Most Popular Car” is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. While the anniversary of the launch of the first Toyota Corolla...

 
Good at Hacking? Uber Is Offering $10,000 to Whomever Cracks Its System
Good at Hacking? Uber Is Offering $10,000 to Whomever Cracks Its System

24 Mar 2016, 10:51 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Uber has announced it will offer rewards to hackers who manage to crack its system and uncover flaws. While this practice seems totally crazy, it is common in the IT industry for a big company to propose rewards to “white hat” hacke...

 
Audi Scales Down Sales Expectations This Year in the US, but Just by a Notch
Audi Scales Down Sales Expectations This Year in the US, but Just by a Notch

24 Mar 2016, 09:52 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Audi’s American division has reportedly narrowed its sales targets for this year. The company wants to focus on brand and dealer health instead of an all-out sales offensive. According to Ralph Mauro, Chairman of Audi’s US dealer cou...

 
Lexus Confirms Plans for Seven-Seat RX
Lexus Confirms Plans for Seven-Seat RX

24 Mar 2016, 09:08 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Remember those rumors that announced a seven-seat crossover from Lexus? Well, it turns out they were right, as Lexus officials have confirmed they have finalized plans to build a seven-seat version of the RX. Jeff Bracken, Lexus General Manager,...

 
How to Prepare Your Car for Spring
How to Prepare Your Car for Spring

23 Mar 2016, 17:09 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / The March equinox took place at the beginning of this week, marking the official start of spring. In light of the change, car owners must prepare their vehicles for the new season. We have made a simple guide to help you remember everything you ...

 
Audi Unveils New R18, Its LMP1 Racer for the 2016 World Endurance Championship
Audi Unveils New R18, Its LMP1 Racer for the 2016 World Endurance Championship

23 Mar 2016, 14:05 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Audi Motorsport has prepared a new race car for the top class of the 2016 World Endurance Championship. Audi’s entry in the LMP1 class is the R18, shown in the gallery attached to this story. The car has the name of the previous model, but...

 
Kentucky Sues Volkswagen, Joins the Club
Kentucky Sues Volkswagen, Joins the Club

23 Mar 2016, 12:51 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Volkswagen is being taken to court in Kentucky as well. The Commonwealth of Kentucky wants to make the carmaker and its subsidiaries accountable for “false and misleading promotion and sales of its vehicles,” referring to the Dieselgate...

 
2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth Revealed, Has 160 HP and Other Goodies
2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth Revealed, Has 160 HP and Other Goodies

23 Mar 2016, 10:44 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Fiat has presented a new version of its 124 Roadster, developed by Abarth. It is called 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth and comes with a sport suspension, a mechanical limited-slip differential, a sport-tuned quad-tip exhaust, 160 HP, and a Sport Mo...

 
Nissan New Mobility Concept Unveiled Before New York Auto Show
Nissan New Mobility Concept Unveiled Before New York Auto Show

23 Mar 2016, 09:38 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Nissan has released the official photo gallery and specifications of its New Mobility Concept ahead of its presentation at the 2016 New York Auto Show. The Japanese brand will showcase four custom New Mobility Concepts at the New York event, but...

 
F1 Safety - How Technology Allows Drivers to Walk Away from High-Speed Crashes
F1 Safety - How Technology Allows Drivers to Walk Away from High-Speed Crashes

22 Mar 2016, 17:05 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Formula 1, the most expensive branch of motorsport, is also the safest. After this weekend’s crash at the Australian Grand Prix, we take a look at the recent safety innovations that help save drivers’ lives in the case of an accident. ...

 
GMC Introduces 2017 Terrain Nightfall Edition
GMC Introduces 2017 Terrain Nightfall Edition

22 Mar 2016, 13:26 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / GMC will launch a new version of the Terrain at this year’s New York Auto Show. The new model is the 2017 GMC Terrain Nightfall Edition. Just like the GMC Canyon Nightfall Edition and the Sierra All Terrain X, the new version of the Terrai...

 
Tesla Details Model 3 Shipping Priority for Existing Customers
Tesla Details Model 3 Shipping Priority for Existing Customers

22 Mar 2016, 12:16 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Tesla has announced how it will start delivering the upcoming Model 3 all over the world. Unlike previous releases, existing Tesla customers will have priority over people who never owned a Tesla car before. However, even with priority, deliver...

 
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Achieves EPA-Estimate of 46 MPG, Leads Segment in US
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Achieves EPA-Estimate of 46 MPG, Leads Segment in US

22 Mar 2016, 10:35 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Chevrolet has a new reason to be proud. Its all-new 2016 Malibu Hybrid achieved an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 46 MPG in the combined cycle. The value is the best in the segment, a significant achievement. The detailed estimates by the ...

 
Ford Unveils Shelby GT-H, Available Exclusively for Rent Through Hertz
Ford Unveils Shelby GT-H, Available Exclusively for Rent Through Hertz

22 Mar 2016, 09:31 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Ford and Hertz are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ShelbyHertz GT350-H “Rent-A-Racer.” So they are doing it with another special edition car. This time, it is called the Shelby GT-H, with the letter H coming from Hertz, the c...

 
The Ten Fastest FWD Cars on the Market in 2016
The Ten Fastest FWD Cars on the Market in 2016

21 Mar 2016, 17:00 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Front-wheel-drive cars still have a say regarding performance, as several carmakers still offer quick cars with this configuration. We have put together a list of ten FWD cars that provide excellent acceleration figures. Our list is focused on ...

 
Hyundai Working on ix35 Fuel Cell Replacement, Scheduled to Launch in 2017
Hyundai Working on ix35 Fuel Cell Replacement, Scheduled to Launch in 2017

21 Mar 2016, 13:16 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Hyundai is developing the second generation of its ix35 Fuel Cell Vehicle, and the new model will be launched in mid-2017. The replacement of the current ix35 Fuel Cell will be targeted to the general public and is expected to have a lower price...

 
2018 BMW M7 Prototype Revealed in Latest Spyshots
2018 BMW M7 Prototype Revealed in Latest Spyshots

21 Mar 2016, 12:08 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / BMW is testing a new prototype based on a current-generation 7 Series. The vehicle features unusual 19-inch rims that try to conceal a set of performance brakes. The brake discs are cross drilled and have a generous size when compared to the wheels...

 
A Dictator-Owned 1973 Mercedes-Benz SL Sold at Auction for 50,000 Euros
A Dictator-Owned 1973 Mercedes-Benz SL Sold at Auction for 50,000 Euros

21 Mar 2016, 10:20 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Bonhams sold a 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL Roadster this weekend for 49,450 euros. The vehicle in question was formerly owned by Nicolae Ceausescu, a Romanian dictator who was overthrown in 1989. Apart from the car’s unique history, the 350...

 
Land Rover Is Testing a New Prototype of the Discovery Sport, Spyshots Reveal
Land Rover Is Testing a New Prototype of the Discovery Sport, Spyshots Reveal

21 Mar 2016, 09:08 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Land Rover engineers are out there driving a mysterious prototype based on a Discovery Sport. Our friends at SB-Medien have spotted a prototype that has a slightly modified front bumper. Instead of the fog lights, the bumper has larger air vents...

 

Stories by Sebastian Toma