This isn't something I expected to be announcing on my website, but I've made a children's colouring book. And, rather excitingly, Amazing Cars Colouring Book is now available to buy on Amazon. Most of what I create normally involves driving cars, reviewing them, filming them or writing about them. This time, though, I wanted to do something completely different and create something for younger car enthusiasts.
The result is a colouring book packed with 50 different cars, covering everything from supercars and performance cars to electric vehicles, classics, SUVs, pickups and rugged off-roaders.
Buy Amazing Cars Colouring Book on Amazon
A colouring book for car-mad kids
I was absolutely one of those children who could tell you what car had just driven past, spent far too much time looking through car magazines and would happily talk about cars to anyone prepared to listen.
Admittedly, not much has changed. That was really the inspiration behind Amazing Cars. I wanted to create something for children who get excited when they spot an unusual car, already have a favourite supercar or can somehow identify a car from its headlights before their parents can.
Rather than filling the book with 50 very similar cars, I've tried to make every page feel different. There are low-slung sports cars, outrageous supercars, performance saloons, hot hatches, luxury SUVs, electric cars, classics, pickups and proper off-roaders. Some have been inspired by cars I've driven or reviewed, while others are simply the sort of cars I'd love to have sitting outside.
50 cars to make your own
One of the brilliant things about a colouring book is that there are no specification sheets telling you what colours you're allowed to choose.
Want a bright pink supercar? Go for it. A green performance car with orange wheels? Why not? A completely multicoloured off-roader? Absolutely. Each car has been created as a full-page illustration with bold outlines and plenty of space for children to add their own ideas. And while I've made it with younger car fans in mind, I'm fairly certain there are a few grown-up petrolheads who wouldn't mind getting the colouring pencils out either.
A screen-free activity for journeys, holidays and rainy days
Cars and long journeys often go together, so it also felt appropriate to create something that could keep children entertained away from another screen.
The book could make a fun companion for road trips, flights and holidays, or simply something to reach for during a rainy afternoon at home. It could also make a relatively inexpensive present for a car-loving child, whether it's for a birthday, Christmas or simply as a little surprise.
At £7.99 at the time of writing, I'm hoping it's the sort of thing that can make a fun gift without costing a fortune.
From reviewing cars to making a colouring book
This has been a very different project for me. Usually when I'm putting automotive content together, I'm worrying about battery capacities, performance figures, boot space or whether a car actually drives as well as its manufacturer claims.
Creating this has meant looking at cars from a completely different perspective. What makes a car immediately recognisable? What shapes look exciting? What would actually be fun to colour? I've genuinely enjoyed putting the collection together and seeing it turn from an idea into a physical book that you can now order from Amazon feels slightly surreal.
It probably won't be the last time I experiment with something like this either.
Amazing Cars Colouring Book is available now
Amazing Cars Colouring Book: 50 Exciting Cars to Colour, From Supercars and Classics to EVs, Off-Roaders and Performance Cars is available to order now from Amazon in the UK and around the world.
So, if you've got a car-mad child in the family, need a present for a young petrolhead or simply know somebody who'd enjoy spending an afternoon creating some wonderfully questionable car colour combinations, I'd love you to take a look.
And if you do buy a copy, I'd genuinely love to see the finished creations, so please be sure to tag me in your pictures @benfreakleyuk on Instagram :)