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.

Toyota’s EV HiLux is coming. Get used to it
By Andrew Chesterton · 19 Dec 2021
No sooner had Toyota released the very first image of an all-electric ute that will no doubt replace the diesel-chugging HiLux we know today - and possibly as soon as 2024 - did the internet begin to light up with comments about it not being a real ute, a
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Toyota goes BIG on EVs
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Dec 2021
It might not have been the first company to launch a fully electric vehicle, but Japanese giant Toyota also won't be left behind, with the brand today unveiling plans to launch 30 new EVs by 2030.Making the point that this is not some "dreamy" vision deca
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Toyota MR2 confirmed?
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Dec 2021
Toyota appears to have confirmed a reborn MR2 performance car will launch before 2030, with the svelte orange vehicle parked at the back of a major Toyota EV announcement pointing to the brand's "three brothers" strategy finally taking off
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Porsche Macan 2022 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Dec 2021
Can you really Porsche-ify an SUV? You bet you can. The updated Porsche Macan is a seriously good driver's car, wrapped in a polished and practical suit. So is this what the best of both worlds looks like?
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VW's V6-powered Ford Ranger Raptor rival
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Dec 2021
Volkswagen will have a V6-powered Ford Ranger Raptor rival in showrooms by April next year, with the Amarok W580X priced at $77,390.Another product born of VW's partnership with Walkinshaw, the W580X takes the best stuff from the Amarok (not least of whic
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Volkswagen Arteon 2022 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Dec 2021
The VW model you've maybe never heard of has big plans - as Volkswagen's flagship passenger car, it's got Audi, BMW and Mercedes in its sights. So can the brand who claims "premium for the people" pivot to just straight-out premium?
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Toyota LC300 production stopped again
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Dec 2021
Toyota production woes have surfaced again, with the brand once again forced to pause manufacturing on some of its most popular models, including the hugely popular LC300 which has only just now started appearing in Australia.According to Reuters and Auto
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Hardcore Ranger Tremor and Wolftrak for Oz?
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Dec 2021
Ford clearly has some Ranger tricks up its sleeve to rumble its Toyota HiLux rival, with two new models quietly trademarked in Australia this week, including a hardcore baby Raptor.Ford trademarked two new models with the Australia's Intellectual Property
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Have you won the LandCruiser lottery?
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Dec 2021
The first lesson in any economics class? When supply is tight, prices skyrocket.
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Toyota Corolla Cross muscles up!
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Dec 2021
A new-look Toyota Corolla Cross has broken cover in Thailand, with the tougher-looking GR Sport variant looking a bit, if you squint, like a mini LC300.But while the GR Sport model looks sportier, it isn't any more powerful, with the beefed-up trim being
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