autoevolution
 

Vlad Radu

1,137  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.
Here is a Detailed View of ZF’s 8HP Automatic Transmission
Here is a Detailed View of ZF’s 8HP Automatic Transmission

29 Oct 2020, 10:01 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The German gearbox supplier revealed the eight-speed automatic transmission in 2008, when it debuted on the F01 BMW 7 Series. Since then, it has become arguably the best automatic transmission out there, evolving into multiple versions and spawning...

 
Analyzing the New Features of the 2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport
Analyzing the New Features of the 2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport

29 Oct 2020, 08:55 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / After a successful reception, the eight-generation Golf received the GTI, GTD, and GTE versions, which were equally well-received, but Volkswagen saved the best for last, recently introducing the most powerful and track-capable version, the GTI Clu...

 
A Guide to Ford's Most Powerful Engine, the GT500's Predator V8
A Guide to Ford's Most Powerful Engine, the GT500's Predator V8

28 Oct 2020, 19:25 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / For more than fifty years, Shelby Mustangs have taken the traditional power and quickness of standard Mustangs and elevated them to the top row of high-performance muscle cars, making them better in every way from generation to generation. Car...

 
Here are Some Essential Tips on How to Maintain Your Pickup Truck
Here are Some Essential Tips on How to Maintain Your Pickup Truck

28 Oct 2020, 16:41 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Over the years, the pickup truck has become an invaluable vehicle for many of us out there. It is a versatile vehicle that can provide the freedom that a car simply cannot. You can use it to take the family on a weekend trip to the mountains or to ...

 
Understanding Rolls-Royce's Architecture of Luxury
Understanding Rolls-Royce's Architecture of Luxury

28 Oct 2020, 11:01 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Perfection is defined by a state of completeness, flawlessness, or supreme excellence, and in the automotive industry, it is defined by one brand, Rolls-Royce. The latest generation of cars produced by the British manufacturer strives to live up to...

 
Aston Martin's Second-Generation V12 Engine Under Inspection
Aston Martin's Second-Generation V12 Engine Under Inspection

27 Oct 2020, 18:09 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The British automaker did not use a V12 engine on its road cars until modern times, as the weapon of choice for their flagships was the Tadek Marek V8, a legendary engine developed in the late ‘60s by Polish engineer Tadeusz "Tadek"...

 
This Is What’s New for the 2021 Porsche Panamera Facelift Lineup
This Is What’s New for the 2021 Porsche Panamera Facelift Lineup

26 Oct 2020, 17:56 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Revealed in 2009 at the 13th Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show, Porsche’s venture into four-door luxury-car territory has been a huge success even if its conception upset a lot of the brand’s purist fans. Now in its secon...

 
A Look at Koenigsegg Jesko’s Light Speed Transmission and How it Works
A Look at Koenigsegg Jesko’s Light Speed Transmission and How it Works

26 Oct 2020, 14:28 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The limited-production mid-engine sports car manufactured by Swedish automaker Koenigsegg is a track-oriented beast that is built for tremendous speed and agility. Managing the power produced by the twin-turbocharged V8 is one of the most advanced ...

 
Why the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension on the 2021 GMC Yukon Is a Big Deal
Why the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension on the 2021 GMC Yukon Is a Big Deal

25 Oct 2020, 19:05 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The 2021 Yukon is GMC’s latest iteration of its flagship full-sized SUV. It offers best in class technology, an elevated level of luxury and a lot of room. A highlight of its new additions is the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension system availa...

 
Understanding the Ultium Technologies That Power the Hummer EV
Understanding the Ultium Technologies That Power the Hummer EV

25 Oct 2020, 18:10 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The new Hummer has been revealed and it has everyone talking. We did expect to see an all-electric reincarnation of the legendary truck, but we were all taken by surprise by its tremendous power, range, and of course, price. At the heart of thi...

 
Is the Alpina B3 a Worthy Alternative to the BMW M3?
Is the Alpina B3 a Worthy Alternative to the BMW M3?

25 Oct 2020, 16:54 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In the inner cycles of BMW enthusiasts one question always arises: Alpina B3, or ‘the standard’ M3? For those who prefer a wagon high-performance BMW, the question used to have an easy answer but with the body style officially set to de...

 
These are the Key Differences Between the Bronco and the Bronco Sport
These are the Key Differences Between the Bronco and the Bronco Sport

24 Oct 2020, 12:24 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Ford has revived the Bronco brand and we could not be happier. The two new models are a breath of fresh air for all off-road enthusiasts, but some people confuse the one for the other or have misleading ideas about the least publicized Bronco Sport...

 
Here are Some Crucial Tips for Safe Winter Driving
Here are Some Crucial Tips for Safe Winter Driving

24 Oct 2020, 11:42 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Since winter is just around the corner, it might be a good time to prepare your vehicle and be aware of the adjustments you need to make to your driving style to navigate through adverse weather conditions. If you are lucky enough to live in a ...

 
How Famous Volkswagens Got Their Names
How Famous Volkswagens Got Their Names

23 Oct 2020, 18:45 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Volkswagen, or “people’s car” in German, started its journey with the iconic Beetle in 1937, aiming to build affordable cars for everyone, in an era when one out of fifty Germans owned a car. It went to become the largest car manu...

 
What is Adaptive Cruise Control and How it Works
What is Adaptive Cruise Control and How it Works

23 Oct 2020, 17:15 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / As vehicles evolve, we are treated to technological innovations that may have seemed impossible fifty years ago. One such technology is the adaptive cruise control featured on modern-day vehicles. Some people may think that this technology is ...

 
A Brief History of Bugatti’s “Macaron” Emblem and How Its Currently Made
A Brief History of Bugatti’s “Macaron” Emblem and How Its Currently Made

23 Oct 2020, 16:15 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Established by Milan-born industrial designer Ettore Bugatti in 1909, the carmaker was started in what was then the German city of Molsheim (currently in Alsace, France), and made a name for itself quickly, for the artistic nature of its car design...

 
Examining the Off-Road Capabilities of the Mercedes EQC 4x4 concept
Examining the Off-Road Capabilities of the Mercedes EQC 4x4 concept

23 Oct 2020, 14:51 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Mercedes-Benz has been busy developing it is Modular Electric Architecture (MEA) by developing multiple models that will soon join the EQC in the all-electric EQ range. One such model will most definitely be an off-road capable G-Class-inspired ele...

 
How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for the Winter Season
How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for the Winter Season

23 Oct 2020, 09:51 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Winter is coming and unless you live in warmer parts of the world, it is recommended to check and make the necessary adjustments to the vehicle you are going to use during this season. If a motorcycle is your preferred vehicle you can either s...

 
Here Is Why the GMC Hummer EV Is an Off-Road Monster
Here Is Why the GMC Hummer EV Is an Off-Road Monster

22 Oct 2020, 17:07 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The long-awaited return of the legendary Hummer is here as GM reveals the first edition of the fully electric super-truck. It is a spectacular vehicle in every way and is designed to successfully conquer any terrain with intimidating ease. Base...

 
How Continental Helped Develop the Volkswagen ID.3
How Continental Helped Develop the Volkswagen ID.3

22 Oct 2020, 13:33 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Continental is a German parts manufacturer that started by producing tires a century and a half ago, and since then, it has become one of the leading innovators in the automotive industry aiding the rapid evolution of current and future technologie...

 

Stories by Vlad Radu