20 of the best Christmas car gifts for 2020

2020 has been a weird year but some things never change and that includes the rapidly approaching festive gift-a-thon that is Christmas. If the petrolhead in your life has not been able to indulge in their passion as much as usual thanks to lockdown, social distancing and the cancellation of pretty much everything, then now is the perfect time to indulge them with a little motoring-relating present or two. Up to £25 Faraday pouch (£5, Halfords) Car thefts using relay attack methods which intercept a key signal are increasingly common. It’s a sophisticated crime but a Faraday pouch is a simple and cheap solution and makes a great gift for any owner of a modern car with keyless entry. The pouches feature a metal lining that blocks the key signal, making it impossible to intercept and mimic. Citroen cookie cutter cube (€8, Citroen shop) Perfect for car fans old and young, this fun kitchen utensil lets you shape your biscuits in the style of six of the French brand’s most iconic models. You can choose from the Type A, Type H, Traction Avant, 2CV AMI and CX. John Haynes: The Man Behind the Manuals (£20, Haynes) Anyone with more than a passing interest in cars or bikes will recognise the Haynes name. The brand’s workshop manuals have been an oil-stained staple of many home garages since the 1960s when John Haynes began writing and publishing them. Following his death in 2019, this new biography explores the man behind the manuals, his early life in Ceylon, time spent in the RAF and the overwhelming passion for all things automotive that helped create a global brand. Carfume (from £11.99) Forget your scented pieces of tree-shaped cardboard, your favourite petrolhead deserves better. Carfume offers a selection of scents to freshen up any car, including exclusive blends and those inspired by popular perfumes and aftershaves. Prices start at £11.99 for small recyclable “orbs”, rising to £24.99 for refillable deluxe air vent units. Aston Martin: Made in Britain (£15, Amazon) Think Aston Martin and you think James Bond, which is convenient because the author of this dive into the brand’s history is none other than Bond stunt driver and former Stig, Ben Collins. The racing driver and author explores the famous marque from its very foundation by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in 1920, through the iconic David Brown years to on-track success under the guidance of Adrian Newey and its future as it enters its second century. £25-£50 Lego Speed Champions Jaguar Formula E and I-Pace (£34.99, Lego) This twin-pack of EV race cars is ideal for smaller motoring fans and big kids alike. Part of the new Speed Champions range of larger models, the set features the Formula E Panasonic Jaguar Racing Gen2 single seater and the I-Pace eTrophy racer, plus a starting gantry with drop-down lights. With 565 pieces it should keep brick fans of any age entertained over the holidays. Limited Edition Frank Stephenson sketches (£35, Frank Stephenson) Car designer Frank Stephenson has been involved in the styling of some of the most famous and instantly recognisable cars of recent decades. He was behind the famous Ford Escort RS Cosworth, the revived Mini, Ferrari F430 and Fiat 500 and has led the teams responsible for most of McLaren’s recent output, including the P1 and 720S. He also hosts a regular YouTube show about how he created some of his most iconic designs and is now offering limited edition prints of sketches from the show. You can chose from A5 prints of the Ferrari F430, Ford Escort Cosworth, Maserati MC12, McLaren P1 and MINI, with all the proceeds going to charity Driving experience (from £45, DrivingExperience.com) Whatever your loved one’s passion, there is bound to be a driving experience out there for them. From supercars to American muscle, rally legends and even monster trucks and tanks, Driving Experiences offers the opportunity to get in the passenger seat or behind the wheel of dozens of different vehicles at some of the UK’s most famous circuits. Prices range from £45 to £890 and if anyone’s asking, we’d like the General Lee Dodge Charger blast, please. Bentley Birkin teddy bear (£42, Bentley store) Inspired by Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, perhaps the most famous of the “Bentley Boys”, this cute-as-button 40cm cuddly toy soft sports the legendary racer's signature “Birkin spot” scarf and Bentley club jacket, along with the instantly recognisable Bentley B on its paw. Autoglym Bodywork and Wheels collection (£45, Autoglym) If your car lover is truly passionate about their motor, they’ll want to keep it in top condition. This six-part set from car cleaning specialist Autoglym includes everything they’ll need to keep their pride and joy sparkling, from bodywork shampoo and wheel cleaner to a super resin polish and instant tyre dressing. £50-£100 Amazon Auto Echo (£49.99, Halfords) The Amazon Auto Echo brings the ubiquitous home assistant to the car. The slimline device can be easily mounted to an air vent and brings Amazon Alexa onboard, allowing you to control your music and other media by voice, ask for navigation help, traffic updates or tips on nearby services. You can also set reminders, make phone calls and even control your smart home devices from the car via the unit’s smartphone connection. Wacaco Pipamoka portable coffee maker (£49.99, Amazon) Know someone who’s always running late but needs their hit of caffeine in the morning? This in-car coffee maker could be the solution. Made from stainless steel and featuring a pressure brewer mechanism, it means you can brew proper coffee on the go in just two minutes. Go kart race experience for two (£90, TeamSport) Nothing brings out a car fan's inner racer better than a stint at the wheel of a go kart against friends or family. This Christmas TeamSport is offering a voucher for two drivers to duke it out on track at one of 35 indoor circuits around the UK. The offer includes two 15-minute sessions on track and is valid for 24 months. An extra tenner will bag a gift box containing the voucher, racing balaclavas, gift wallet and lanyards with passes. Bentley ride-on car (£95, Bentley store) For the smaller car fan in your household, this ride-on model is inspired by the Bentley Continental GT. It might not have that car’s immense W12 but it does feature a working horn and stereo with a selection of music plus a back rest and under-seat storage Delorean watch (£99.99, DMC Watch) The Deloran DMC-12 is probably one of the most recognised cars in the world thanks to the Back to the Future films and its chequered history. While most car fans would love the real thing on their driveway, they aren’t cheap, so how about a genuine Delorean on their wrist instead? Officially licenced by the Delorean Motor Company, this timepiece features a stainless steel 49mm case and black leather strap, and comes in a presentation box. £100+ Limited100 photographic prints (From £119, Limited100) Launched earlier this year, Limited100 specialises in high-quality, limited edition photography for car lovers. The company works with award-winning photographers including Paul Ward, Rick Noël and João Meneses, to source exclusive images of everything from modern hypercars like the Bugatti Chiron to classic Ferrari racers, shot in the studio, on location or in action on track. Each run of prints is limited to just 100 and they are available in sizes from A3 to A1 in a variety of frames and finishes. Ryobi ONE+ 18V Power Washer (£129.99, Amazon) A cordless power washer ideal for anyone religious about keeping their car clear. The compact unit runs off an 18V battery and features a built in compressor so there’s no power cable to restrict your movement or get tangled up. The hose features a three-in-one nozzle with turbo, 15-degree fan and rinse settings and can be hooking up to a standard garden hose or used in any fresh water source via an included syphon kit. Ryobi ONE+ 18V Power Washer review Porsche Carrera model engine kit (£159.99, Amazon) The Porsche 547 engine has quite a reputation in motorsport circles as the motor that helped propel the 356 and 505 Spyder cars to racing victory. This 1:3 scale, 300-piece model allows engineering fans to explore the inner workings of the famous flat-four as they build the working, battery-powered replica. As well as building instructions, the manual includes a comprehensive history of Porsche's early racing years. Nextbase 622GW (£249, Halfords) Nextbase is among the biggest sellers of dash cams in the UK and the 622GW is its current flagship device. Like lots of other high-end dash cams it features 4K recording, image stabilisation, GPS and a night vision mode. However, the 622GW also packs in an extreme weather mode, Amazon Alexa voice control and, most interestingly, emergency SOS calling and the what3words location service that can pinpoint your location anywhere on earth to a 3m square zone. Nextbase 622GW review Lego Technic Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 (£349.99, Lego) This is the latest flagship set from Lego, following the Bugatti Chiron and Porsche 911 GT3 RS. It is based on the limited run hybrid hypecar from Sant’Agata and, like the Porsche and Bugatti, is designed for older enthusiasts rather than children or casual builders. The 1:8 scale model uses more than 3,600 parts and features a working replica of the Sian’s V12 engine, a sequential eight-speed gearbox, retractable spoiler and scissor doors. As well as the model, the kit includes “coffee table” collectors’ booklets and a series of 13 videocasts.