Latest news with #CallumDesigns
Auto Blog
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Ian Callum Wants To Turn The Aston Martin Vanquish Into A Strangely Beautiful Wagon
Former Aston Martin Designer Wants Another Shot Ian Callum is arguably one of the finest automotive designers of our time, having worked on several of the most timeless cars of the last 40 years, including the millennial Aston Martin Vanquish. Now in charge of his own design firm, Callum Designs, he's proposed a more practical take on the V12-powered grand tourer, revealing a concept for a Vanquish Shooting Brake, something that Zagato did back in 2017. However, that design was based on the Vanquish of the time, and Callum's is based on the one he penned for 2001, trying to find a place somewhere in the middle. There's just one thing holding this car back from becoming a reality: an interested buyer. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Full screen Chevrolet says a next-gen Camaro is still possible. What could it look like? Watch More A Slightly Odd Wagon The Vanquish 25 Shooting Brake, as it's been named, is listed on the 'Portfolio' section of the Callum Designs site, where the firm shares the ideas it has for reimagining future cars in the hopes that wealthy buyers will take a liking to them and ask for one to be commissioned. These are purely conceptual until that happens, so we won't see Callum's Vanquish wagon on the lawns of Pebble Beach at Monterey Car Week this month. If it ever does get there, it'll certainly look unique. The modernized lower side intakes look like something Jaguar might have produced around this time (where Ian Callum wound up after being contracted by Aston Martin), and the vented hood is also reminiscent of that era's Jag XKR. The diamond-faced wheels add a touch of modernity, as does the beveled glasshouse, and the side skirts with their lower leading edge and gilled flics call to mind single-seat racecars. At the back, the rear view will be narrow, but the car will look dramatic, with the muscular rear arches flowing into an upturned ducktail spoiler. Further down, more carbon fiber either side of the redesigned diffuser reduces the visual height of the car, though from the front three-quarter angle, this vehicle almost has a crossover-like stance to it. In profile, the front two-thirds of the car looks particularly modern, but the rear gives this writer images of a BMW Z1 from the late 1980s, and the wheels make me think of a Tesla, especially with red brake calipers behind them. Does Anybody Want A V12 Wagon? Whether we agree on the looks or not, Callum would surely allow some tweaks to be made, promoting this project as something that would be made 'exclusively for you,' calling it 'a bespoke masterpiece built around your vision, down to the last stitch' – but the looks aren't as exciting as the concept of a practical V12-powered GT that can fit skiis and luggage, something that Ferrari customers have desired and received since the FF. That must be enticing to someone, and the fact that there will certainly be far fewer than the 99 Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brakes out there surely counts for something. Naturally, this sort of bespoke creation will be deep in six- (if not seven-) figure range. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Top Gear
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
David Gandy's bespoke Mini gets a 110bhp rally engine and much brown
Retro Whaddya make of Gandy's coachbuilt, fully bespoke British icon? Skip 4 photos in the image carousel and continue reading If you're David Gandy, what do you daily? A rally-engined classic Mini restomod, of course. Specifically, this wacky little thing, built by Callum Designs in partnership with a Mini specialist called Wood and Pickett. Power is provided by a "road/rally" spec 1.3-litre four-pot producing 110bhp, courtesy of a tweaked ECU, new cylinder heads and twin-point fuel injection. That's mated to a five-speed manual 'box, with further upgrades including a sportier suspension setup and vented 8.4in brakes. Probably goes like the clappers. Advertisement - Page continues below There's a new front grille for better cooling, a new splitter plus dandy blue light signatures. We very much approve of the extra fog lamps too, which add to the already cheeky look of the Mini. There's very little gap between the pronounced arches and those caved four-spoke 13in alloys, and out back, there's that familiar upward-angled central twin-exhaust. The look is complete with an 'Anthracite' finish and two brown stripes running across the bonnet, roof and tailgate. You might like Inside, you'll spot even more brownness. The redesigned dashboard gets a tiny screen with Apple CarPlay, plus gauges and metal bezel dials integrated within the same unit for a clean look. Meanwhile, the seats are cloaked in Bridge of Weir tan leather upholstery, with a black and white trim along the central sections. Ian Callum said: 'The Mini is one of the most important cars ever created, not just for its innovative engineering, but for what it represents culturally as a symbol of British ingenuity and style. It's a car that broke the rules and became a global icon. To reimagine it through the lens of Callum, with Wood and Pickett's craftsmanship, has been deeply rewarding.' Advertisement - Page continues below Pricing for the Callum x Wood and Pickett Mini will start from £75,000, and each example will be tailor-made for customers. Any thoughts on what the most outlandish spec would be? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
NDTV
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Jaguar E-Type Restomod Keeps 'Vintage Excellence' Alive
Restomods often end up drawing criticism because of supererogatory changes to iconic models. Going against the pattern, the Jaguar E-Type restomod concept is being showered with praise. Even though it is based on a model, called "the most beautiful car ever made" by Enzo Ferrari, the tinkering has made the silhouette even better. Behind the commendable job is Ian Callum, the person who was at the helm of Jaguar's design department between 1999 and 2019, and has multiple models under his belt, like the Jaguar F-Type, Aston Martin DB9, and more. The Jaguar E-Type restomod, a creation of Callum Designs, is still a sketch. However, chances are the 3D render might soon step into the real world. Created as a part of Callum's "Portfolio Project," the design shares the space with the off-road SUV called the Grampian. This line of projects is likely to have more models in the near future. Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Escudo Coming This Diwali: All About New Creta, Seltos Rival Revered by many enthusiasts, Callum has left some parts of the E-Type untouched. It still retains its flowing lines, creating the iconic profile and proportions that spelled perfection for many. Taking a closer look reveals changes like the elimination of all chrome elements, numbers, and door handles have been replaced to sit flush. The shape of the headlight retains the shape, but is fitted with time-adapted LED light. Rear lights, however, are now slightly lower. Taking the front seat on the list of most striking changes are the wheels with a large aero-disc design. On the inside, the Jaguar E-Type restomod concept brings its A-game with retro charm. It consists of a wooden steering wheel with an analog dial. Camouflaged well in this cabin is a transparent digital display taking the place of the center of the dashboard, forming the bridge between the occupant and the modern tech functionality of the car. Going with the overall theme is a manual shifter placed in the center. The technical specs of the restomod have not been revealed yet. However, the presence of exhaust pipes at the rear end suggests that it is not an electric vehicle. Speculators suggest it will have a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine used by Jaguar for the F-type.
Car and Driver
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Ex-Jaguar Design Boss Reimagines the E-Type with This Stunning Concept
Here's a futuristic take on the classic Jaguar E-type from a company run by Jaguar's former styling head, Ian Callum. It's just a demonstration design at present, but it could be made into a one-off. A less-is-more approach here proves that the XKE can still look fresh. Famously praised even by Enzo Ferrari, the Jaguar XKE is one of the prettiest cars ever built. As the Brits say, it would take a lot of cheek to mess with it, but when you're the former head of Jaguar design, allowances can be made. Thus, Callum Designs has dared to modernize the silhouette of the classic Jaguar E-type—and you have to admit they've pulled it off rather well. Callum Designs Ian Callum's portfolio includes the Aston Martin DB7 (and most of the early work on the DB9), the Jaguar XK, and the Jaguar F-type, so he knows his way around traditional grand tourer styling elements. This project is not necessarily confirmed for production. Instead, it's a chance for the design team to stretch their creativity. Should a client with a donor E-type show interest, it's certainly something that could move from the virtual realm to reality. The exterior is finished in a minimalist matte gray, with all the chrome trim eliminated. The headlights and taillights have been updated for a modern look (Lucas, Prince of Darkness, consider yourself exorcised), and the large wheels look futuristic while still reflecting the spirit of the original wire wheels and three-bladed knock-on hubs. It sits low, a crouching cat. Callum Designs The interior has the same ethos, with discreet digital gauges but analog dials for the instrument panel. There are physical toggle switches and—perhaps best of all—a large metal shift knob that indicates a five-speed manual transmission. Twin pipes out the back seem to further indicate that this design isn't meant to be a whisper-quiet EV but a proper growler. There are no hints as to whether it's meant to be powered by a straight-six or V-12, but presumably either could be made to fit. Callum Designs Sussex-based Eagle already does restored and restomodded Jaguar E-types. Then, of course, there's Jaguar Heritage itself. But these are more traditional offerings, not quite so daringly forward-looking as the Callum Designs take. As Jaguar repositions itself in a rapidly changing market, it too will have to pick and choose what to bring forward from the past into the future. Even as a one-off, this car proves that when the big cat company was at its best, the cars were truly timeless. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
Top Gear
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Behold: Callum Designs' utterly sublime E-Type restomod concept
Behold: Callum Designs' utterly sublime E-Type restomod concept Ex-Jag designer pens his perfect E-Type. Now just needs a customer to donate their original Skip 4 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 4 There are very few people in the world you'd trust to *successfully* restomod an E-Type, but former Jaguar design boss Ian Callum would be one of them, and his team's latest work imagines exactly that scenario. Yep, welcome to Callum Designs' E-Type concept. We'll give you a few seconds to lift your jaw from the floor. Ready? OK, good. It forms part of the British design house's new 'Portfolio Project' series, and, while merely a render for now, there's a possibility that it'd build one from an old E-Type for the right customer. And for the right (and as yet unknown) price, obvs. Advertisement - Page continues below As for the design itself, the original stance has been dropped a few inches and the proportions widened with meatier wheel arches. Other touches include new casing for both sets of lights, larger tailpipes and dished three-spoke alloys, supplemented with aero discs. All very tasteful, but we're glad there's some familiarity with the exposed grille staying put. Callum says the interior could be tailored entirely to your needs. We'd stick with the red leather and wood trim spec shown - both pretty and minimalist. There's a speedometer and rpm dials ahead of the vintage-looking steering wheel, navigation and music gauges sandwiched between fuel and oil temperature readings, and… not much else, actually. Though one other piece is worthy of your attention: the five-speed manual gearbox with its solid metal gearknob. Yep, if it happens this thing certainly won't be one of those EV restomods. But what do we reckon folks, should it get a straight-six or a V12? Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
