What’s green and only read at Christmas? Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and sustainable fashion expert Jessica Saunders present The Green Lane gift guide, featuring five top gifts for car lovers.
The C&TH Cars Hub
Best Christmas Gifts For Car Lovers 2024
JT – Looking for some last-minute inspiration for the motoring enthusiast in your life?
JS – If this is a list of the things I could wrap up for you, then no! However, as it’s Christmas, I’m prepared to put in a good word with Santa. Shall I start with one of my favourites?
So, you have been shopping! Let’s compile a joint list, starting with…
British Motor Museum
Adopt-A-Car Scheme, from £25
britishmotormuseum.co.uk
This is a new and inspired idea by the British Motor Museum. The scheme allows members of the public to ‘adopt’ a car from the Warwickshire-based collection, paying from £25 upwards to support a piece of British motoring history. Choose from the Albion A1 dog cart to a ‘last off the line’ Wolseley 2200. Adopters receive a digital adoption certificate and their name added to the car’s listing in the Online Collections programme. All the money raised will help support the work of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and ensure the museum continues to tell the story of our motor industry. Who knows, one day it will likely include as many battery-powered cars as those with a combustion engine.
Bentley
Heritage Bear Limited Edition, £65
bentleymotors.com
Surprisingly, Bentley don’t sell a pure electric car yet and have pushed back the date for the brand’s first, full EV model to 2026. The battery-powered SUV will follow a raft of green initiatives at the company’s factory in Crewe – including a colony of Bentley bees! Bears like honey, which may be why the luxury car brand is offering a collection of cuddly Bentley toy bears to keep customers warm over Christmas.
Little Car Company
Aston Martin, £63,000
db5junior.com
The likelihood is that your children will only drive a vehicle powered by batteries when they grow up. My first car was £200 Morris Minor, but you can start them early with this 66 percent scale replica of the iconic Aston Martin DB5. True, you need deep pockets because the Little Car Company’s electric DB5 Junior costs around £63,000. However, for those who can afford it, the baby Aston allows electric-only motoring around the garden for would-be 007’s everywhere.
Volt
Infinity e-bike, £2,999
voltbikes.co.uk
Volt is one of the UK’s leading e-bike brands – the Infinity is the company’s high-end model with premium Shimano gearing. If you haven’t ridden an e-bike before, then this is a great way into the electric bike craze, taking some of the effort out of pedalling. Powered by a 230w Sony battery pack, the Infinity will see you whizzing to work in style. Fitted with lights, luggage rack, cycling computer and a built-in security tracker system, the Infinity is an upright, comfortable machine with up to 90 miles or range.
Samsung Frame TV
From £529 for the 32-inch model
samsung.com
What’s the least attractive feature in a modern car interior? The infotainment screen that sits on the dashboard of most models like a carbuncle. Many look like bolt-on iPads and add nothing to the aesthetic. Most televisions are the same – an ugly black screen when not in use. Enter the Frame TV, a television that fits seamlessly into your home. When turned off, it cleverly transforms into a work of art, with the choice of over 1,600 pieces to hang above the fireplace. Alternatively, add a photo of your favourite Green Lane car – from the superfast McLaren Artura hybrid, to the budget-price Citroen Ami.
