Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist

Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.

But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.

And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.

When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.

But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.

More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

What the hell happened to Toyota?
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Nov 2021
Flash back to 2017 and auto outlets around the world were buzzing, thanks to a massively surprising promise - and an even more surprising admission - from the president of the world's biggest car company.It was a promise that would lead to a genuine perfo
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Toyota LandCruiser Prado going hybrid?
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Nov 2021
The new Toyota LandCruiser Prado will introduce a new petrol-hybrid powertrain, according to new reports out of Japan, with the brand's mini-LC300 to follow the brand's well-word electrification pathway.The reports, which surfaced in Japanese scoop site S
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Audi Q5 Sportback and SQ5 Sportback 2022 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Nov 2021
Usually you can have space OR sportiness, practicality OR performance. But Audi reckons its new Q5 Sportback ups the style and performance from the regular Q5, without sacrificing space or practicality. So what's the catch? We put the Q5 45 TSI Sportback and SQ5 Sportback to the test to find out.
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Toyota GR Corolla Rallye outputs leaked!
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Nov 2021
The outputs for Toyota's fire-breathing GR Corolla hot hatch have reportedly been leaked in the USA, with reports the brand's newest performance vehicle will out-punch the GR Yaris despite sharing its engine.According to multiple international outlets, a
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A real Australian-made ute?
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 Nov 2021
H2X appears to have settled on Victoria as the state to kick-start its Australian automotive manufacturing ambitions, with the company entering an agreement with the Gippsland Circular Economy Precinct (GCEP), about four hours from Melbourne in the state'
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Toyota Celica comeback!
By Andrew Chesterton · 31 Oct 2021
Toyota is on the record as keen to complete its performance trilogy - or what it calls its "three brother" strategy - with a new performance hero to join the GR 86 and GR Supra in a three-prong attack on everything from the Subaru WRX STi to the new Nissa
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The new Ford Ranger will be sticking around
By Andrew Chesterton · 26 Oct 2021
We could be waiting as long as 10 years for an all-new Ford Ranger, with new reports out of the USA suggesting the about-to-be-updated Toyota HiLux fighter will be sticking around until beyond the end of the decade.The reports, which have surfaced in US
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New Toyota HiLux GR S details drop!
By Andrew Chesterton · 25 Oct 2021
Toyota in the Phillipines has live-streamed the launch of its sportiest HiLux variant yet, following similar unveilings in Asian markets, but despite the new brake calipers and shocks, this isn't the Ford Ranger Raptor fighter you've been waiting for.That
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Toyota's MR2 performance hero reborn!
By Andrew Chesterton · 24 Oct 2021
Toyota's performance revolution is set to continue, with reports the brand will revive the iconic MR2 nameplate to take on, well, everyone really - from the incoming Subaru WRX STi to the Nissan Z and everyone in-between.The rumours, published by Japanese
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New 300kW Subaru WRX STI rendered
By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Oct 2021
Japan will soon have a new entrant into the almost 300kW club, and if the new 2022 Subaru WRX STi looks half as good as it does in these new renders, then we're very much on board.Yes, the Toyota GR Supra and new Nissan Z will soon have company at the top
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