Ian Callum, the former Jaguar designer, has launched his first bespoke car through his design agency. The Callum Skye, an electric all-terrain sports car, is now available to order with prices ranging from £80,000 to £110,000. The Skye will be offered in two versions, one tailored for off-road ability and the other for on-road dynamics. The car features a 42kWh battery with a claimed range of 170 miles and a fast charger option that can top up the battery in less than 10 minutes. The Skye has a compact footprint similar to the Renault Clio and Dacia Sandero, and it weighs just 1150kg, making it one of the lightest EVs on the market.
The design of the Skye is bold and unique, with a strong “accent loop” surrounding the door apertures and a horizontal body structure running through the entire car. The interior of the Skye mirrors the exterior design, focusing on minimalism and featuring a stacked center console with touchscreen rotary dials for heating and ventilation. The car also has a central touchscreen on top of the dashboard with smartphone mirroring.
Ian Callum, the design chief at Callum’s agency, stated that the company intends to make the Skye an exclusive proposition, with production limited to dozens rather than hundreds of cars. He also expressed the company’s intention to continue creating bespoke Callum cars in the future, with the possibility of producing them in batches of up to 1000 if things go well.
One notable feature of the Skye is its relatively low weight for an electric car. Ian Callum explained that they aim to keep the weight low by simplifying the design and carefully controlling the weight of every component. Their mantra is “minimum mass, maximum capability.” This approach aligns with the growing trend in the automotive industry towards lightweight electric vehicles to improve efficiency and performance.
Overall, the Callum Skye is an exciting addition to the electric sports car market. Its unique design, focus on versatility, and lightweight construction make it a compelling option for enthusiasts looking for a high-performance electric vehicle. With the Skye being the first of many bespoke Callum cars, it will be interesting to see what other innovative designs and capabilities the company has in store for the future.
