autoevolution
 

Vlad Radu

1,148  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.
This Is Everything You Need to Know About Paint Protection Film
This Is Everything You Need to Know About Paint Protection Film

10 Feb 2021, 08:08 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Keeping your car’s paintwork intact can be a difficult task, especially if you drive it daily. To make your life much easier, you can fully or partially wrap it in paint protection film, and here is everything you should know about the produ...

 
What Is a Catalytic Converter Cleaner, and Does It Actually Work?
What Is a Catalytic Converter Cleaner, and Does It Actually Work?

9 Feb 2021, 17:05 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Part of an ever-growing range of maintenance products, these cleaners are marketed as miracle cures for aging or clogged catalytic converters. Many of us claim to be environmentally conscious, but few know that the state of our vehicles’ ...

 
Here’s Why the M3 and M4’s S58 Twin-Turbo Engine Is a Six-Cylinder Masterpiece
Here’s Why the M3 and M4’s S58 Twin-Turbo Engine Is a Six-Cylinder Masterpiece

9 Feb 2021, 14:01 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Next month, the latest generation of the two high-performance models will arrive in dealerships with the new S58 engine under the hood. This article takes a closer look at this formidable six-cylinder to understand the new technologies it brings an...

 
Here’s What the 2022 Nissan Frontier’s Off-Road-Oriented Trims Have to Offer
Here’s What the 2022 Nissan Frontier’s Off-Road-Oriented Trims Have to Offer

9 Feb 2021, 10:50 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Japanese carmaker has recently revealed a completely redesigned version of the Frontier, which, for the first time in the model's history, is exclusively designed for North America. At first glance, the truck is a beauty, especially when e...

 
How Nissan Recycles Depleted EV Batteries and Rescues Them to Power Japan
How Nissan Recycles Depleted EV Batteries and Rescues Them to Power Japan

8 Feb 2021, 16:37 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Have you ever wondered where EV batteries go when they die? Well, as far as Nissan is concerned, these essential components get a second life by being recycled, refurbished, and reused through the carmaker's 4R Energy Corp joint venture with S...

 
Audi Sport Reveals the Latest Version of Its TCR Race Car, the 2021 RS 3 LMS
Audi Sport Reveals the Latest Version of Its TCR Race Car, the 2021 RS 3 LMS

8 Feb 2021, 14:55 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / After the success enjoyed by the first generation, Audi Sport has recently revealed the latest iteration of its entry-level race car. Completely redesigned, the new RS 3 LMS aims to offer better performance, increased safety, ergonomics, and reliab...

 
Looking for a Used Pickup Truck? Avoid These Five Problematic Models
Looking for a Used Pickup Truck? Avoid These Five Problematic Models

8 Feb 2021, 12:37 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Buying a used pickup is generally more difficult than buying other types of vehicles because trucks are usually abused by their owners. Some are built to last, even after years of hard work, but others are inherently problematic and should be avoid...

 
Step Inside the Surprisingly Luxurious Interior of the New Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Step Inside the Surprisingly Luxurious Interior of the New Jeep Grand Cherokee L

5 Feb 2021, 17:27 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Recently revealed, Jeep's new three-row SUV delivers the legendary off-road capabilities that have become synonymous with the brand. It will also treat its occupants to a beautifully designed interior that features high-quality materials and a...

 
What Is Electronic Stability Control and How It Works to Keep You Safe
What Is Electronic Stability Control and How It Works to Keep You Safe

5 Feb 2021, 15:08 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / One of the most critical technologies on modern vehicles, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is responsible for preventing countless accidents for decades. In this article, we’re going to explore its origins and understand how it works. A...

 
Fifty Years Ago, the Legendary ‘Red Pig’ Introduced AMG to the Automotive World
Fifty Years Ago, the Legendary ‘Red Pig’ Introduced AMG to the Automotive World

5 Feb 2021, 11:26 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Today, AMG is the high-performance division responsible for turning regular Mercedes models into works of automotive art. Half a century ago, though, it was a small independent company that had the audacious idea of turning a bulky full-size luxury...

 
Need to Change Your Car’s Brake Fluid? This Quick Guide Will Save Time and Money
Need to Change Your Car’s Brake Fluid? This Quick Guide Will Save Time and Money

5 Feb 2021, 08:09 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Since your car’s brakes are part of a hydraulic system, they won’t function without this critical fluid, and it’s essential to change it regularly. Choosing the right type is also paramount, and buying a premium aftermarket produc...

 
This $50 Compact Wireless Vacuum Cleaner Is Exactly What Every Car Needs
This $50 Compact Wireless Vacuum Cleaner Is Exactly What Every Car Needs

4 Feb 2021, 16:03 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Everyone loves a clean cabin, but some of us are either too busy or lazy to take the car for a thorough wash frequently. That is where the compact, wireless car vacuum cleaner from Baseus comes in handy. After every road trip with the family, ...

 
Here's How the 2021 VW ID.4 Communicates With Its Occupants Through Light
Here's How the 2021 VW ID.4 Communicates With Its Occupants Through Light

4 Feb 2021, 13:17 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Today’s vehicles are equipped with technologies that were part of the science-fiction realm not long ago. It is the case of the new VW ID.4, which uses multi-colored LEDs to interact with its occupants, complementing the audio feedback. T...

 
This Is What to Do If You Put the Wrong Type of Fuel Into Your Vehicle
This Is What to Do If You Put the Wrong Type of Fuel Into Your Vehicle

4 Feb 2021, 10:48 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In today’s fast-paced world, we all make mistakes so don’t feel bad if you accidentally fill up your vehicle’s tank with the wrong type of fuel. It happens more often than you would think, and here is what to do if it happens to ...

 
The Five Most Expensive Classic Cars Sold at Auctions in 2020 Were All Bugattis
The Five Most Expensive Classic Cars Sold at Auctions in 2020 Were All Bugattis

4 Feb 2021, 08:57 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The ongoing pandemic might have changed the way auctions are performed, yet it hasn’t quenched car collectors’ thirst for vintage Bugattis. Surprisingly, the five most expensive vehicles sold at international auctions last year were all...

 
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor Finally Arrives, Is All About the Redesigned Suspension
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor Finally Arrives, Is All About the Redesigned Suspension

4 Feb 2021, 08:16 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / After months of rumors and spy shots, the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor was finally revealed, and it doesn’t look like it’s here to play games. To dominate the truck world, it comes with a redesigned suspension system that features FOX...

 
These Are the Most Common Symptoms of a Failing Alternator
These Are the Most Common Symptoms of a Failing Alternator

3 Feb 2021, 17:18 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The alternator is not a complex piece of machinery, yet it’s an integral part of conventionally fueled vehicles’ electrical systems, and like all car parts, it will ultimately break down. Here are the most common symptoms and what you s...

 
Everything You Need to Know About the 2021 BMW M3 and M4’s Choice of Brakes
Everything You Need to Know About the 2021 BMW M3 and M4’s Choice of Brakes

3 Feb 2021, 12:27 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Two of the most highly anticipated models set to be released this year, the all-new BMW M3 and M4, will be available with a redesigned set of standard M compound brakes or an optional M carbon-ceramic variant. In this article, we’re taking an...

 
Kraton Debuts Innovative Car Interior Manufacturing Tech on China’s Buick GL6
Kraton Debuts Innovative Car Interior Manufacturing Tech on China’s Buick GL6

2 Feb 2021, 17:17 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Buick has recently revealed the refreshed GL6 MPV in China, and although the car itself isn’t all that impressive, it is the first-ever to use Kraton’s game-changing IMSS (injection-molded soft skin) technology, which is set to revoluti...

 
Five Surprising Everyday Things That Damage Your Vehicle’s Paint
Five Surprising Everyday Things That Damage Your Vehicle’s Paint

2 Feb 2021, 14:44 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / We all love a good-looking car, yet daily driving it will expose it to various elements that have the potential to damage the paintwork. Here is a list of the most common enemies of your vehicle’s paint and what you should do to avoid them. ...

 

Stories by Vlad Radu