autoevolution
 

Vlad Radu

1,131  ARTICLES

Personal motto:

“From success, you learn absolutely nothing. From failure and setbacks conclusions can be drawn. That goes for your private life as well as your career.” - Nikki Lauda

Contributor
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At age five Vlad built a car cockpit out of wood, carboard and an old Trabant steering wheel under his desk and dreamed about driving the world’s most exotic cars. He grew up watching Michael Schumacher become a legendary driver, falling in love with speed and all things Ferrari in the process.

In high school, he crashed a communist-era Dacia 1310 with no brakes into a military base’s fence and almost got arrested on terrorism charges but bribed the base’s sentinel with three packs of cigarettes and only got in trouble for ruining the car.

He then decided to put his passion for cars on hold and concentrate on playing professional basketball. Due to a lack of talent, size, and a serious injury, he was forced to abandon professional sports and take a job as a video game tester. It was during this period that he discovered a passion for reading and writing after finding Hunter S. Thompson’s Hell’s Angels on a park bench.

The author’s writing style was fascinating to young Vlad and he continued to read all his books while creating a blog where he wrote about controversial social issues, inspired by his favorite author.

Years later, he got back to his first passion, taking a job at a local car parts dealership. He worked his way up from the sales department to a successful regional manager position, but something was still missing.

His biggest dream was to write so, when Autoevolution approached him to become a member of the team, he quit his old job instantly, and has been passionately writing ever since.

When he’s not busy creating articles or playing with his two-year-old son, he can be found working on his old BMW 3 Series Wagon or shredding trails on a mountain bike he assembled himself.
Infiniti’s New Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive: How It Makes the 2022 QX60 Better
Infiniti’s New Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive: How It Makes the 2022 QX60 Better

15 Mar 2021, 15:56 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The upcoming Infiniti QX60 is set to arrive in dealerships later this year, and it will be available with the latest version of the Japanese automaker’s Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system. Compared to other similar technologies, Infiniti stat...

 
Why Honda’s Level 3-Approved Traffic Jam Pilot ADAS Would Be Perfect in the U.S.
Why Honda’s Level 3-Approved Traffic Jam Pilot ADAS Would Be Perfect in the U.S.

15 Mar 2021, 12:20 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Based on the “Safety for Everyone” slogan, Honda continuously researches and develops safety technologies. The company's top advanced safety and driver-assist suite is called Sensing Elite, and the latest version has just been laun...

 
Get to Know the Ioniq 5: Here Are Five Interesting Facts About the Futuristic EV
Get to Know the Ioniq 5: Here Are Five Interesting Facts About the Futuristic EV

13 Mar 2021, 15:15 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / It may look more like a rendered concept vehicle, yet the Ioniq 5 is very much real and will be available in all important markets later this year. Apart from its futuristic exterior design, Hyundai’s latest EV offers many advanced features, ...

 
Hop Aboard the Upcoming Audi Q4 e-tron and Discover Its High-Tech Interior
Hop Aboard the Upcoming Audi Q4 e-tron and Discover Its High-Tech Interior

12 Mar 2021, 13:00 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In recent years, Audi has been designing some spectacular interiors, and the latest member of the e-tron family looks set to take things to another level. We're talking about the Q4 e-tron, which offers plenty of space for a compact SUV, excel...

 
Lamborghini's Countach LP 500 Prototype Turns 50, This Is Its Captivating Story
Lamborghini's Countach LP 500 Prototype Turns 50, This Is Its Captivating Story

11 Mar 2021, 16:09 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Exactly half of century ago, the Italian carmaker unveiled the Countach LP 500 prototype. Over the next three years, Lamborghini engineers enhanced it and that resulted in the LP400 production version, one of the most iconic sports cars of all time...

 
How Fox’s Live Valve Evolved From a Failed Project to a Game-Changing Technology
How Fox’s Live Valve Evolved From a Failed Project to a Game-Changing Technology

11 Mar 2021, 12:36 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / For decades, Fox has been providing innovative high-performance suspension solutions for a wide range of vehicles. One of the company's recent breakthroughs is the Live Valve technology which traces its roots to an old abandoned project. T...

 
The Forgotten Story of the First Toyota Sold in the U.S., the Toyopet Crown
The Forgotten Story of the First Toyota Sold in the U.S., the Toyopet Crown

11 Mar 2021, 09:48 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Back in the late fifties, two little Crowns came to Tinseltown pursuing the American dream. Although the model never rose to stardom, it paved the way for today’s Camrys, Corollas, or Avalons and helped transform Toyota into a global brand. ...

 
RAV4 Hybrid vs. RAV4 Prime: The Key Differences Between Toyota's Hybrid SUVs
RAV4 Hybrid vs. RAV4 Prime: The Key Differences Between Toyota's Hybrid SUVs

11 Mar 2021, 08:57 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / If you want to buy a new RAV4 with a hybrid powertrain but haven’t decided if you should go for the plug-in or the self-charging model, here are the major differences between the two. The RAV4 is considered the first modern crossover, an...

 
Five Reasons Why a Used Second-Gen Lexus RX 350 Is the Perfect Budget Crossover
Five Reasons Why a Used Second-Gen Lexus RX 350 Is the Perfect Budget Crossover

10 Mar 2021, 13:39 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Although it’s a 15-year-old model, the well-built second-generation RX 350 has withstood the test of time, earning a reputation for reliability and excellent ride quality. If you’re looking for a cheap crossover, this Lexus deserves ser...

 
These Are the Five Most Common Symptoms of a Failing Flywheel
These Are the Five Most Common Symptoms of a Failing Flywheel

10 Mar 2021, 08:37 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The flywheel is an integral part of a manual transmission, and since it's subjected to continuous wear and tear, it will eventually fail, preventing you from shifting gears. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen without prior symptoms, so if ...

 
A Legend Turns 100: The Fascinating Story of the Bugatti Type 13 "Brescia"
A Legend Turns 100: The Fascinating Story of the Bugatti Type 13 "Brescia"

9 Mar 2021, 17:18 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In 1921, four race-enhanced Type 13s competed at the Grand Prix for Voiturettes in Brescia, Italy, obliterating the competition and finishing the race in the top four positions. The feat marked a turning point for Bugatti, as the small open-top rac...

 
BMW M Unveils Four New Amazing Safety Vehicles for the 2021 Moto GP Season
BMW M Unveils Four New Amazing Safety Vehicles for the 2021 Moto GP Season

9 Mar 2021, 14:56 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / With the 2021 season set to debut on March 28 in Qatar, the Bavarian manufacturer’s M division, the official safety car supplier for the competition for over two decades, has just revealed its all-new fleet. Final preparations for the 73r...

 
$40,000 Lexus Sedan Showdown: IS or ES, Which One Is Better for You?
$40,000 Lexus Sedan Showdown: IS or ES, Which One Is Better for You?

9 Mar 2021, 12:51 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Those looking to buy a new sedan that delivers a high level of comfort and reliability for a competitive price should seriously consider a Lexus. The IS and ES models, in particular, have similar base prices but are tailored for different types of ...

 
Meet Five of the Most Reliable Toyota Models of All Time
Meet Five of the Most Reliable Toyota Models of All Time

8 Mar 2021, 15:15 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Toyota hasn’t become the world’s best-selling automaker and one of the biggest companies in the world by chance; it made a name for itself by manufacturing some of the safest, dependable, and reliable vehicles out there. The Japanes...

 
Bugatti Launches Comprehensive Service Program for Veyron And Chiron Owners
Bugatti Launches Comprehensive Service Program for Veyron And Chiron Owners

8 Mar 2021, 11:04 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Bugatti customers who own a Veyron or Chiron can now benefit from the carmaker’s exclusive Passeport Tranquillite service program, which ensures that the multimillion-dollar hypercars are always well-maintained and perform flawlessly. Apa...

 
The Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Toyota FJ Cruiser

5 Mar 2021, 14:49 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Although it never exceeded sales expectations, the FJ Cruiser’s unique retro design, capability, and reliability earned it a cult following. If you’re looking for a versatile mid-size SUV, but you don’t have the money for a new on...

 
How to Easily Remove Stickers From Your Vehicle Without Leaving Any Traces
How to Easily Remove Stickers From Your Vehicle Without Leaving Any Traces

4 Mar 2021, 15:57 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Whether they are on your vehicle’s bumper, bodywork, or windows, stickers can be difficult to get rid of. This article will guide you through the process of removing them without leaving any traces. Maybe you bought the vehicle with an ...

 
Is Toyota's 2021 Tacoma V6 Too Slow? Some People Seem to Forget It's a Workhorse
Is Toyota's 2021 Tacoma V6 Too Slow? Some People Seem to Forget It's a Workhorse

4 Mar 2021, 14:57 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / According to Customer Reports, which recently reviewed it, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma powered by the 3.5-liter V6 is one of the slowest-accelerating trucks available on the U.S. market. Unveiled in January 2015 at the Detroit Auto Show, the third g...

 
A Look Back at Toyota’s Achievements in the Fascinating World of Rallying
A Look Back at Toyota’s Achievements in the Fascinating World of Rallying

4 Mar 2021, 10:52 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / After nearly two decades away from the sport, Toyota returned to the WRC in 2017, and since then, the team won two Drivers’ and one Manufacturers’ titles. But these are just the latest in a long line of rallying achievements for the Jap...

 
Five Reasons Why the Bugatti Divo Is Almost Twice as Expensive as the Chiron
Five Reasons Why the Bugatti Divo Is Almost Twice as Expensive as the Chiron

3 Mar 2021, 12:27 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Built as a more exclusive, track-oriented version of the Chiron, the Divo is one of the French luxury carmaker’s most innovative creations. But is it so mind-blowingly superior to demand almost $6 million? Launched in 2018 at the Monterey...

 

Stories by Vlad Radu