Articles by Stephen Ottley

Stephen Ottley

Contributing Journalist

Steve has been obsessed with all things automotive for as long as he can remember. Literally, his earliest memory is of a car. Having amassed an enviable Hot Wheels and Matchbox collection as a kid he moved into the world of real cars with an Alfa Romeo Alfasud.

Despite that questionable history he carved a successful career for himself, firstly covering motorsport for Auto Action magazine before eventually moving into the automotive publishing world with CarsGuide in 2008. Since then he's worked for every major outlet, having work published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Drive.com.au, Street Machine, V8X and F1 Racing.

These days he still loves cars as much as he did as a kid and has an Alfa Romeo Alfasud in the garage (but not the same one as before... that's a long story).

Why new ute owners should get off the road

By Stephen Ottley · 05 Jan 2023

The recently revealed Ford Ranger Platinum is a sign of the times we live in. If the Blue Oval brand had tried to launch a premium - borderline luxury - ute just over a decade ago, it would have most likely been met with derision and very few sales.

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The most exciting cars coming in 2023

By Stephen Ottley · 03 Jan 2023

A new year presents new opportunities. For Australia’s best-selling car brands, it also means there are some exciting new additions headed for local showrooms.

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The most important cars coming in 2023

By Stephen Ottley · 02 Jan 2023

A new year brings with it new hopes and expectations for Australia’s biggest brands. The likes of Toyota, Mazda and Kia have maintained their strong sales thanks to consistent renewal of their line-ups to keep customers coming back for more.

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How Volkswagen will catch up in the EV race

By Stephen Ottley · 02 Jan 2023

Volkswagen Australia admits it has been slow to join the electric vehicle market but has revealed how it will play catch up. The German giant has announced plans for 10 electric models by 2026, with many already locked in for local sale.

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How Kia became an EV hero brand

By Stephen Ottley · 01 Jan 2023

Kia has just launched its most expensive model yet, the EV6 GT, with a starting price of $99,590 plus on-road costs. The very idea of a $100k Kia would have been laughable, bordering on corporate negligence only a few years ago.

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How VW can add a Toyota LandCruiser rival

By Stephen Ottley · 30 Dec 2022

Volkswagen Australia has revealed it is eager to add the upcoming Scout models to its local line-up. This would give the German brand electric rivals for the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning as well as the Toyota LandCruiser and upcoming Kia EV9, with the new Scout brand set to offer a full-size SUV and pickup for the US market by 2026.

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Why Hyundai wants to beat Kia

By Stephen Ottley · 29 Dec 2022

Hyundai began 2022 hoping to move up to second in the sales charts but will instead likely end the year in fifth place. And the company knows it can’t afford another disappointing year in 2023.

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The car brands that defy expectations

By Stephen Ottley · 28 Dec 2022

Diversity has been the keyword for car makers for the past decade (or more), with increasingly small gaps in seemingly ever-expanding model line-ups. But some brands are demonstrating that a little can go a long way.

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Who cares how fast your EV is 0-100km/h?!

By Stephen Ottley · 25 Dec 2022

Even the most diehard anti-Tesla advocates cannot ignore the impact the brand had on the uptake of electric vehicles. Even executives from other car companies have acknowledged that Tesla was responsible for driving consumer demand in electric cars.

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Is the time right for a Hyundai sports car?

By Stephen Ottley · 24 Dec 2022

The time may have finally arrived for Hyundai to take its next step as a brand and build a true hero sports car.

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