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.

Nissan eyes export for Navara PRO-4X Warrior
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 May 2022
Nissan's international product chief is actively investigating an export deal for the Navara PRO-4X Warrior, with the Australian made (or, at least, remanufactured) ute set to go global.In what would be a badge of honour for the Premcar team in Melbourne,
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VW announces cut-price electric vehicles
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 May 2022
Australia's cheapest EVs could come from Europe, not China, with the Volkswagen Group today announcing plans for a fleet of entry-level electric vehicles that will hit the market as soon as 2025.The German giant confessed that "we pushed the entry-level s
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Subaru hikes price on XV, Outback, Impreza
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 May 2022
Subaru has today raised the prices across some of its most popular models, with the Japanese brand blaming rising production costs for the increases.
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Alfa Romeo Tonale 2022 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 May 2022
Alfa Romeo is the kind of brand most people want to see not just survive, but thrive. And with the brand at last ready to launch a small, electrified SUV into one of the world's most hotly contested segments, its future success now rests squarely on the shoulders of this new Tonale. No pressure, then. So is it up to the job?
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Prices rise for 2023 Subaru BRZ
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 May 2022
The Subaru BRZ's order books have reopened for the MY23 model, which will arrive as music to the ears of anyone who missed out on the first 500 vehicles which quickly sold out in Australia.Slightly less musical, though, is the news that the 2023 BRZ will
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Arrivederci petrol: Alfa Romeo commits to EVs
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 May 2022
Alfa Romeo's bold future vision will see petrol and diesel engines scrapped by 2027, with the brand promising to be fully electric in just five years.The move will make the Italian brand be one of the first mainstream brands to say arrivederci to petrol a
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Toyota GR Corolla sedan looks epic
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 May 2022
The Subaru WRX STi might be gone (but not forgotten), but that only opens the door for Toyota to snatch its performance-sedan crown with a GR Corolla Sedan.
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Look out LandCruiser
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 May 2022
Toyota's new flagship SUV has been trademarked in Australia, clearing the way for a local launch for the high-riding Crown.Tipped to be Toyota's most expensive SUV to date, the new model is reportedly a high-riding answer to the Crown sedan in Japan - the
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Alfa Romeo's huge new promise
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 May 2022
Alfa Romeo has set out a bold brand-wide vision that will begin with the new Tonale SUV, promising the Italian brand's vehicles will deliver the quality of Lexus and the resale value of BMW.Past Alfa Romeo vehicles have carried a reputation of being high
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Cupra: Why buy a Born EV over its competitors
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Apr 2022
The Cupra Born will inject a sense of excitement into an EV segment sometimes lacking in driver fun and engagement, says the brand's Head of Product and Planning in Australia, Jeff Shafer.Asked why Australians would choose the incoming Born EV over its co
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