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.

Good news for LC300 buyers!
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Oct 2021
Toyota’s LC300 floodgates are about to reopen, with the brand today confirming that right-hand-drive production will resume in Japan next month.
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The new Honda Integra is DEFINITELY a performance car
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Oct 2021
Fears the Honda Integra wouldn't be deemed a performance car seem wide of the mark, with the Japanese brand confirming the reborn icon will be offered with a six-speed manual in the USA.
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Best look yet at the new Mazda CX-50!
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Oct 2021
US media outlets have given us our best look yet at Mazda's upcoming CX-50, with design teams transforming the brand's official patents into real-world renders to give us peek at what to expect from the upcoming Toyota RAV4 fighter.
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New Honda Civic Type R stripped bare!
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Oct 2021
You can't keep secrets on the internet, and as soon as Honda revealed a camouflaged teaser of its incoming Honda Civic Type R, the web got to work removing said camouflage so we could take a closer look.
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Rivian R1T gets green light for Oz launch
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Oct 2021
Electric ute and SUV maker Rivian has just posted a major filing to America's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and buried in the pages is news that should get Australian hearts beating a little faster.Because in the document is not only news that
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New Toyota Z GR Sport HiLux
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Oct 2021
Toyota has just whipped the covers off a new Z GR Sport HiLux that paces the way for a tru GR monster powered by the LandCruiser 300 Series' thumping turbo-diesel V6.
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Ouch... Jeep "feels sorry" for Ford owners
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Oct 2021
Jeep has launched a stunning attack on the off-road capability of arch-rival Ford, with the brand's American president, Jim Morrison, saying he "feels sorry" for owners of the Blue Oval's Explorer SUV.Essentially accusing Ford of using "stickers and paint
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Subaru Forester to adopt Toyota's hybrid tech
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Oct 2021
The next Subaru Forester will reportedly have a whole lot of RAV4 Hybrid in its DNA, with the brand to adopt Toyota's popular hybrid technology for its mid-size SUV with the potential for two different electrified engine sizes.The rumours have arisen in J
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Ineos Grenadier to target those "left behind"
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Oct 2021
Ineos will be targeting customers "left behind" by vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, new Land Rover Defender or Nissan Patrol with its new Grenadier, promising its new off-roader would be a back-to-basics option that can be fixed on the fly
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"The most Australian LandCruiser ever"
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Oct 2021
Toyota has today revealed the importance of Australia in the new LandCruiser 300 Series, not only naming our market "LandCruiser Country", but also declaring the LC300 as the "most Australian LandCruiser ever".Toyota today 'launched' the new LC300, but wi
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