Car designer Ian Callum

Ian Callum

The best car designer of the era

We all can recognize the shapes of cars such as “Ford RS200”, “Aston Martin” or “Jaguar”. Today I would like to share with you about the very important person whose ideas saw daylight. Ian Callum a British car designer who can be considered as one of the best specialists of his generation.

For the last decade, this British guy has been associated with all “Jaguar”, “Land Rover” and “Range Rover” cars. However, the very talented designer has proved many times that he can be also versatile while working on different automobiles of different brands, but this time we would like to demonstrate the best works of Ian Callum. So, let’s get acquainted with the top 9 designs of Ian Callum.

FORD RS200

A two-seater car, specially created for rally racing purposes, was supposed to accomplish a very difficult task – to become the champion of Group B rally racing.

4WD, a watermelon-sized turbine, and a brave-hearted driver were those components that had to lead “Ford” to the winner’s position in international arenas.

A unique construction was the key that allowed the authors of the project to create a very compact supercar. Unfortunately, “Ford RS200” was outshined by “Peugeot 205 T16”, “Lancia Delta S4”, “Audi Quattro” or even “Renault 5 Turbo”.

FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH

“Ford Sierra Cosworth”, which was kind of a child of previous “Ford” and “Cosworth”, became a real phenomenon. It was not very attractive, but it was a damn fast car, which was popular not only among the private autosport teams but also among the dishonest baddies.

At least in Great Britain, different versions of “Ford Sierra Cosworth” especially attracted the thieves or the immatures, who were always planning how to meet the girls and go to them with someone else’s car on Friday night.

Ian Callum and Peter Horbury managed to create one of the most outstanding automobiles of the 1990s “Ford” brand cars and this vehicle received many compliments even from the famous Jeremy Clarkson.

ASTON MARTIN DB7

This car received criticism due to many things, for example, poor dynamic properties, terribly working comfort system or disgusting quality of an assembly. However, “Aston Martin DB7” was always praised due to its elegant, very sexy body lines.

A sleek-shaped “Aston Martin DB7” was introduced in 1994 and if we take a look at the range of modern “Aston Martin” models, we would see that the proportions of the main 2+2 coupe barely changed. A long wheelbase, sloping rear, and a long bonnet. These are the three main factors that assist in creating the “Aston Martin” coupe.

NISSAN R390

Ian Callum has worked for “Jaguar” for many years but before the main transformation of “Jaguar” and “Land Rover” vehicles, the British designer also persistently guided other projects of other car manufacturers.

Ian Callum was the person who was responsible for the creation of a very ambitious “Nissan R390” supercar.

This special car was built for autosport racing competition and constructed in the workshops of “Tom Walkinshaw Racing” where Ian Callum was also working at a time.

ASTON MARTIN DB9

The car which from the very first day was considered as “Future Classic”. It is just a stunning example of car design.

Some sources specify that Marek Reichman and Henrik Fisker are responsible for the creation of “Aston Martin DB7” successor – “DB9”. However, Ian Callum claims, that the original design of “DB9” was created by himself.

JAGUAR XJ

For many years, “Jaguar XJ” has reflected the romantic side of Great Britain. Especially, the arrogant aristocrats, old-fashioned worldview, and the desire to have a cup of tea every ten minutes.

Meanwhile, in 2010 Ian Callum silenced the critics by bringing “Jaguar” to the so-called modern age.

In 2010, a new generation of the “Jaguar XJ” model was introduced which, frankly, looked just phenomenal. Also, for the first time in the history of “Jaguar XJ” the British sedan was equivalent to analogs from Germany. Especially, in terms of the quality of an assembly and technological innovation.

JAGUAR C-X75

The lost opportunity. With this spectacular, breathtaking prototype, “Jaguar” sought to demonstrate that the British want to re-enter the club of supercars, where dominate brands like “Ferrari”, “Porsche” or “McLaren”.

When taking a look at this car, two things bring attention: the technologies used in the car and its design.

The conceptual version of the model had not one but two gas turbines and four electric motors, which together could reach 789 HP. Meanwhile, the fully functional prototypes had a 900 HP hybrid drive, which helped to reach the maximum speed of 320 km/h, could go from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 3 seconds, and go for 50 kilometers using only the electric motor.

Now let’s talk about the car design. This year the concept of “Jaguar C-X75” marks the 10th anniversary. Precisely in 2010, the two-seater, having an exclusive appearance concept of this model was introduced in Paris Motor Show.

According to the original idea, Ian Callum planned to make 250 examples of the “C-X75” model.

JAGUAR F-TYPE

“Jaguar E-Type” is one of those models, which is considered as one of the most beautiful cars. That is why when “Jaguar” announced that the manufacturer is going to create an indirect successor of this car – many people held their breath. And not in vain.

The team led by Ian Callum managed to create presumedly the most beautiful car in its class. “Jaguar F-Type”, which was demonstrated for the first time in 2013, even nowadays looks like it showed up for the world just yesterday.

JAGUAR I-PACE

Who could have thought that “Jaguar”, which had an image as an aristocratic and old-fashioned car manufacturer, would be able to astonish the world with its electric vehicle “I-Pace”. It was, probably, the first high-end class electric car, which was designed and made in Europe.