From a track day with BMW outside of Palm Springs and a range of off-road experiences with iconic British brand Land Rover near Carmel-by-the-Sea to luxe lifestyle accessories by Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, and Bentley: think wireless headphones, a stylish e-Scooter, and tech case for travel. Plus, a couple of essentials for those rugged National Park road trippers and overland enthusiasts, here's what to gift the car lover in your life.
Land Rover Off-Road Experience
Surprise someone special with a customized off-road driving lesson at the Land Rover Experience Driving Center in picturesque Carmel Valley. Located inside The Quail Hotel Resort and Golf Club, qualified instructors help attendees develop skills of all levels, coaching drivers down steep descents and climbing log piles across the 850-acre resort. Courses range from the introductory One-Hour Experience ($295) that includes navigating steep inclines and descents to a full-day Heritage Experience ($1,650) to refine off-road prowess and prepare for real-world scenarios (think navigating rock crawls and water crossings) behind the wheel of a Land Rover Defender 90, modern Range Rover, and Discovery. Backdropped by the Santa Lucia mountains, the resort’s California ranch-style bungalows and farm-to-fork dining add to the draw of spending a night here too.
Ltd. Edition Volvo x D.S. & Durga Candle
Fans of Volvo Cars and the Scandi-chic aesthetic would be chuffed to receive this limited-edition candle in their Christmas stockings. Renowned for their unique and often unconventional scents, when Volvo whisked the husband-and-wife duo behind niche fragrance brand D.S. & Durga to Gothenburg last summer, David Seth Moltz and Kavi Ahuja Moltz took a deep dive into all things Swedish – vintage Volvos, black licorice, and forest walks served as inspiration points – to design a bespoke scent for the brand: Swoodish. A playful portmanteau of the words ‘Swedish’ and ‘Woods,’ for a limited time, the SWOODISH candle ($70) will be available to purchase at dsanddurga and VolvoCarSwoodish with Volvo Cars donating a portion of proceeds to Volvo For Life Fund partner One Tree Planted.
BMW Track Day
For high-performance driving experiences in Southern California, it doesn't get more thrilling than time on the track at the BMW Performance Center. Located at The Thermal Club, a private motorsports facility near Palm Springs, multiple track layouts provide challenging corners and straightaways to test handling, speed, and braking. For the enthusiast in your life looking to sharpen their skills under professional instruction, consider the lineup of M Track Experiences. Focused on high-speed driving with BMW M series vehicles, the One-Day M School is a great place to start cycling through the M3, M4, and M5 Competition models while getting the hang of proper drift techniques, perfecting drive lines and timed attacks.
Rolls-Royce Amphitheatre Headphones
Although designed exclusively for the Rolls-Royce motor car and compatible with the rear seat entertainment option in Cullinan Series II and all upcoming cars with RSE, the Rolls-Royce Amphitheatre Headphones (price upon request although they're listed for $2,100 at Miller Motorcars) are fully compatible with any Bluetooth device and can also be enjoyed outside of the vehicle. Complete with noise-canceling function and a built-in microphone, they boast uncompromised sound quality and an immersive listening experience with a 70-hour battery lifetime. Subtle Rolls-Royce branding features too – both on the hard-shell case, which has been perfectly designed for secure and stylish storage, and the headphones themselves.
Café Leather Driving Gloves
Driving gloves are an essential accessory for any style-conscious car enthusiast, offering a secure grip on the steering wheel while shielding hands from the elements. Thanks to artisan brands like Café Leather, these timeless accessories have seen a resurgence in recent years, riding the wave of renewed interest in vintage fashion. Crafted in the Spanish town of Ubrique—renowned for its skilled leather artisans—Café Leather has curated a premium collection of accessories and apparel tailored for automotive enthusiasts. Among their offerings, their driving gloves stand out. The Tritron line, inspired by 1950s racing culture, delivers a unique connection to the road while adding a dash of old-school, Bond style sophistication.
Scout Motors Apparel
The Scout brand emerged in the 1960s as a line of off-road vehicles produced by International Harvester but Scout Motors just made an exciting relaunched as an EV-focused brand with two concepts: the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. Known and loved for their rugged durability, models like the Scout 80 and Scout II became precursors to modern SUVs, blending utility with adventure-ready design. Much like Scout's retro-inspired accessories line, which includes essentials like the Fleece Shacket, Topo Designs Y-Pack, a Waffle Knit Beanie, and insulated MiiR Camp Mug.
Rivian Duffel Bag
Known for its innovative and outdoors-oriented design philosophy, Rivian's aesthetic bridges the gap between eco-conscious innovation and the adventurous spirit of traditional off-road vehicles. The R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV combine sleek, futuristic styling with rugged practicality, reflecting their off-road and adventure-focused capabilities – much like the California-based EV makers' line of gear and accessories. Ranging from the super practical (there's a portable charger, $400) to just plain fun (see the Gear Guard Halloween Plush, $45), the rugged but stylish Duffel Bag ($175) can easily go from National Park road trip to fancy resort stay.
iKamper X-Cover 3.0
The iKamper X-Cover 3.0 ($2,599) could be the ultimate hybrid rooftop tent for adventure lovers. An ideal gift for overland and off-road enthusiasts, it combines the durability and quick setup of a hard shell with the spaciousness and affordability of a soft shell and boasts 360° views, plus excellent ventilation in a lightweight, PVC-free design. Weighing in at just 128 lbs., it’s iKamper’s lightest three-to-four-person tent, making it ideal for smaller SUVs and daily drivers, while a patented setup ensures fast, efficient folding, eliminating the bulk and hassle of traditional covers.
Bentley Heritage Tech Case
Founded in 1919 by W.O. Bentley in Cricklewood, England, the prestigious Bentley brand is synonymous with craftsmanship, engineering, and prestige. Supporting their automotive offerings is the Bentley Collection, an impeccably curated range of lifestyle accessories made from the finest materials and inspired by the distinctive design of Bentley's cars. Beautiful luggage and travel pieces, like the Heritage Tech Case ($378), will suit those always on the move. A handsome complement to both the Heritage Wash Bag and Bentley Weekender, it's made from 100% leather and features convenient small and large internal pockets for laptops and other devices, plus a discreet debossed Bentley emblem on the front.
Bugatti 9 e-Scooter
Synonymous with speed, luxury, and engineering excellence, Bugatti has consistently produced some of the world's most iconic supercars. But in 2022, the luxury sports car brand entered the electric scooter market and now boasts a range of models that bring their signature luxury and performance ethos to urban commuting. Proudly 'inheriting the DNA of the world's fastest production car' and boasting a sleek, aerodynamic design with a lightweight, magnesium alloy frame, the Bugatti 9 Electric Scooter ($1,200) is a showcase of chic modern aesthetics and performance – a sophisticated statement on wheels, if you will, boasting 300 watts of rated power and a duo of mechanical drum and E-ABS Electronic brakes.
