Articles by James Cleary

James Cleary
Deputy Editor

James Cleary is CarsGuide's Deputy Editor, with over four decades’ experience across automotive editorial, marketing, product planning and creative advertising.

He has written for national and international titles including Wheels, Drive, Carsales, Motor and Top Gear Australia providing everything from new product assessment and feature writing to industry analysis, news content and expert advice.

He’s spent time as an advanced driving instructor, and had the opportunity to experience rare and valuable classics here and overseas.

James worked in the PR and advertising/sales promotion teams at Mercedes-Benz Australia and has managed the Marketing Communications and Product Planning functions for Peugeot Australia. He also directed advertising client service for Hyundai Motor Company Australia and Volvo Australia.

James has a Bachelors Degree in Communications from Macquarie University and driving qualifications from multiple advanced schools, including Ian Luff Motivation.

He has been a member of the CarsGuide team for 10 years and as Deputy Editor manages everything from sub-editing to back-end platforms while creating written and visual content.

Expertise

  • New product assessment
  • Industry analysis
  • News content
  • Expert advice
  • Feature writing

Experience

  • BMW Performance Driving School
  • Lamborghini Winter Accademia
  • Master Maserati Driving School
  • Mercedes-AMG Snow Performance School
  • Porsche Level 4 Master training
  • Volkswagen Driving Experience program

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts (MassComm) | Macquarie University | 1981-1984

Featured publications

Toyota and Hyundai joining forces!
By James Cleary · 24 Oct 2024
This weekend, Everland Speedway, around 30km south-east of Seoul, South Korea will host what could be a history-making enthusiast car festival jointly sponsored by Hyundai’s performance and motorsport-focused N division and Toyota’s similarly hi-octane Gazoo Racing group.
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BYD LandCruiser 300 rival snapped in RHD
By James Cleary · 23 Oct 2024
We know it’s in line for local launch “by the end of 2025” but there’s nothing like spy snaps of the BYD Yangwang U8 in pre-production right-hand drive form to put established players in the Aussie three-row 4WD market like Toyota’s LandCruiser 300 and the Nissan Patrol on notice.
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Stellantis cuts ICE output to avoid fines
By James Cleary · 23 Oct 2024
In the face of ever-tightening vehicle emission performance standards for car and light commercial vehicles applied by the EU’s European Commission and growing inventory, particularly in North America, the world’s fourth-largest carmaker Stellantis has decided to reduce production of selected petrol and diesel models across its brand portfolio.
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'King of the Hill' Corvette ZR1 hits 375km/h!
By James Cleary · 23 Oct 2024
It’s the answer to the question muscle and sports car enthusiasts have been asking since Chevrolet confirmed the formidable specification of its flagship ZR1 ‘King of the Hill’ Corvette.
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New Mustang Mach-E coming for Tesla Model Y
By James Cleary · 22 Oct 2024
It may have arrived here in the second half of 2023 but Ford’s Mach-E large electric SUV has been on sale in North America since late 2020, so a ‘mid-life’ upgrade for the Blue Oval’s first high-volume pure-electric vehicle is right on schedule.
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Deepal S05 coming for BTD Atto 3!
By James Cleary · 21 Oct 2024
Following its global debut less than two months ago at the Chengdu Motor Show, Changan subsidiary Deepal has announced domestic pricing for its S05 small, coupe-style five-seat SUV.
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Ram 1500 hit with another recall
By James Cleary · 18 Oct 2024
It was only last month that Ram in the US announced a recall program impacting in excess of 1.2 million examples of its hugely popular 1500 dual cab pick-up. 
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GWM Tank 300 Diesel confirmed!
By James Cleary · 18 Oct 2024
Reports out of China overnight have confirmed GWM’s long-awaited diesel version of the Tank 300 SUV is closing in on global launch, possibly before the end of 2024.
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Hyundai Inster heading off-road!
By James Cleary · 16 Oct 2024
Hyundai Australia has confirmed the just-revealed high-riding Inster Cross will follow the early 2025 arrival of its city-sized Inster EV SUV line-up.
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Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2025 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 15 Oct 2024
If you’ve popped a couple of brave pills the finely-tuned, track-ready Corvette Z06 sails over the $300K threshold at $336,000, before on-roads, and gets serious with inclusions like top-spec multimedia, Nappa leather-trimmed GT2 sports seats, borderline F1-size rubber and heaps more.
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