autoevolution
 

Vlad Radu

1,142  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.
These Are All the Powertrains for the Facelifted 2021 Jaguar E-Pace
These Are All the Powertrains for the Facelifted 2021 Jaguar E-Pace

11 Nov 2020, 09:42 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The second SUV model manufactured by Jaguar got a facelift and many new enhancements for the 2021 model year. Among those, a new hybrid powertrain that uses a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter gasoline engine is introduced to the E-Pace engine lineup. Offic...

 
Here Is the World’s First Superquad, the Lamborghini-Powered 1,110 hp Engler FF
Here Is the World’s First Superquad, the Lamborghini-Powered 1,110 hp Engler FF

10 Nov 2020, 17:38 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / When was the last time you looked at a quad bike and wondered what it would be like to put a 1,100 hp engine on one? The answer is probably ‘never’ to most of us but not for Viktor Engler, the genius behind this project, who dreamed abo...

 
A Detailed View of the Available Suspension Systems on the 2021 Audi RS6 Avant
A Detailed View of the Available Suspension Systems on the 2021 Audi RS6 Avant

10 Nov 2020, 17:14 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The 2021 Audi RS6 offers two suspension system choices. The standard choice is an adaptive air suspension, while the sportier version features fixed coil springs and adjustable dampers. The high-performance RS models developed by Audi Spo...

 
How to Look After Your Car When Working from Home
How to Look After Your Car When Working from Home

10 Nov 2020, 09:19 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Regardless of the country you are in, the world as we know it has changed. If you work from home and you do your best to keep your social distance and protect those around you, do not forget to also protect your vehicle, because driving it rarely a...

 
Understanding Lamborghini Sian’s Groundbreaking Hybrid System
Understanding Lamborghini Sian’s Groundbreaking Hybrid System

10 Nov 2020, 08:46 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Italian manufacturer has been producing some of the most sought-after exotic cars of all time that highlight cutting-edge technologies and powerful engines. Their first endeavor into hybrid-propulsion is the Sian, a mid-engine hypercar that uti...

 
Here are the Pursuit-rated Enhancements of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV
Here are the Pursuit-rated Enhancements of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV

9 Nov 2020, 18:03 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / We live in an era where police vehicles are feared and hated but back in our childhood days, they use to light up our imagination and were some of the coolest vehicles to roam the streets. One such vehicle is the new Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit ...

 
A Look at the Upgrades of the 2021 Hellcrate Redeye Supercharged HEMI
A Look at the Upgrades of the 2021 Hellcrate Redeye Supercharged HEMI

9 Nov 2020, 15:23 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / If the 707 hp Hemi Hellcat engine was a step too slow for your project car, Mopar has you covered with the release of the new Hellcrate Redeye Supercharged HEMI that can spit out 100 more horses while benefitting from many upgrades. The third g...

 
A Closer Look at Chevrolet’s Electric Connect and Cruise Crate Powertrain
A Closer Look at Chevrolet’s Electric Connect and Cruise Crate Powertrain

8 Nov 2020, 16:09 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / For this year’s SEMA360, Chevrolet Performance showcased a 1977 K5 Blazer that had its huge combustion engine and automatic transmission replaced with an electric powertrain. The plan is to mass-produce and market an electric crate system (ca...

 
Here is Koenigsegg Regera's Revolutionary Direct Drive Transmission
Here is Koenigsegg Regera's Revolutionary Direct Drive Transmission

7 Nov 2020, 14:45 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Regera is Koenigsegg’s most luxurious hypercar but that is not its main quality as it was developed with mind-blowing performance in mind. The monstrous force of the hybrid powertrain is delivered to the wheels instantly through an innova...

 
Should You Resurface or Replace Your Worn Brake Rotors?
Should You Resurface or Replace Your Worn Brake Rotors?

7 Nov 2020, 13:25 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The rotors are an integral part of the car’s braking system and the cornerstone of its safety assists, but their high workload at extreme temperatures means they do not last forever, so they should be measured frequently and if needed, resurf...

 
This Is How the Volvo Accident Research Team Helps Improve Safety
This Is How the Volvo Accident Research Team Helps Improve Safety

7 Nov 2020, 11:38 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Swedish manufacturer has made a name for itself by offering some of the safest cars on the market while pioneering innovative features. They study real-life incidents extensively and even established a special accident research team to help inv...

 
Examining McLaren Elva's Innovative Virtual Windshield
Examining McLaren Elva's Innovative Virtual Windshield

6 Nov 2020, 13:05 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In recent times, established supercar manufacturers have gone back to the roots by using open cockpit designs. While this gives drivers a more connected feel, the lack of a windshield can also be impractical. The new McLaren Elva takes a huge step ...

 
A Closer Look at the Doors-off Mirror Kit for the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator
A Closer Look at the Doors-off Mirror Kit for the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator

6 Nov 2020, 10:17 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Contrary to their army truck siblings, Jeeps have been symbolizing freedom since the first civilian versions were released. The current generation Wrangler and Gladiator enhance that feeling by featuring removable doors. But taking them off also re...

 
What the Corvette Stingray Has to Offer For 2021
What the Corvette Stingray Has to Offer For 2021

5 Nov 2020, 18:15 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most iconic cars in history. It has been around for more than 60 years and has become widely known as "America's Sports Car." For the latest generation, it has morphed into an amazing mid-engine b...

 
How to Save Money When Buying New Brake Pads
How to Save Money When Buying New Brake Pads

5 Nov 2020, 17:05 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / You are driving home from a hard day at the office and as you slalom through the nightmarish traffic the stoplight ahead turns red. You engage the brakes and for the first time in your life, you hear that sinister screech. That means it’s tim...

 
A Behind the Scenes Look into How Mercedes-Benz Handling is Developed
A Behind the Scenes Look into How Mercedes-Benz Handling is Developed

5 Nov 2020, 16:12 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The driving character of a Mercedes-Benz is one of the characteristics that make their cars so desirable. Apart from the innovative technologies, distinct design, and luxurious comfort they offer, the way a Mercedes handles is a unique experience r...

 
40 Years of Quattro: A Short History of the Legendary All-Wheel-Drive System
40 Years of Quattro: A Short History of the Legendary All-Wheel-Drive System

5 Nov 2020, 14:28 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The quattro system has become synonymous with Audi ever since it was introduced 40 years ago. Instant success in motorsport led to the decision to implement this system on almost all following Audi models, a move that revolutionized the industry. ...

 
A Closer Look at the Epic V8 That Powers the Jesko and Jesko Absolut
A Closer Look at the Epic V8 That Powers the Jesko and Jesko Absolut

5 Nov 2020, 10:38 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Koenigsegg has been producing some of the most outstanding hypercars and the fastest one is the Jesko Absolut, a 1,600 horsepower aerodynamically perfected, high-speed version of the ‘standard’ Jesko. Both versions are powered by one of...

 
Volvo's Advanced Air Cleaner Technology Brings Healthy Air Inside the Cabin
Volvo's Advanced Air Cleaner Technology Brings Healthy Air Inside the Cabin

4 Nov 2020, 17:50 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Swedish carmaker has made a name for itself by creating cars that are extremely safe and offer passengers the highest level of comfort. Its latest innovation focuses on providing the occupants with improved air quality inside the cabin. Nea...

 
Here are the Secrets of Mazda’s Exquisite Soul Red Paint
Here are the Secrets of Mazda’s Exquisite Soul Red Paint

4 Nov 2020, 16:17 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / We have all had that moment when we saw a new Mazda and whether we liked the model or not, we were in awe of its breathtaking red color. Since we tend to form an emotional bond with our cars, one influencing factor when we buy it is the paint c...

 

Stories by Vlad Radu