Peter Lyon
November 26, 2023
British car designer Ian Callum is well-known as the former design director at Jaguar and Aston Martin, responsible for models like the I-Pace and Vanquish respectively.
He stepped down from his position at Jaguar in 2019 and soon established ‘Callum,’ a design agency specializing in bespoke and limited-edition products. And last week, the agency launched its first offering—the Callum Skye, a high-performance off-road electric vehicle (EV) with “all the fun, none of the fuss.”
Named after the Scottish island made famous in the TV series ‘Outlander,’ the Skye is an all-electric 2+2 off-road vehicle boasting a kit car-like design theme. Unlike many other vehicles in its category, the totally enclosed cabin accommodates four people in a “refined cabin environment.” And from what can see, its Aston Martin-like nuances are all Callum.
Those features include an “accent loop, intersected by a strong horizontal structure, flanked by organic forms front and rear,” according to Callum.
He says he designed the Skye for drivers seeking “extraordinary on- and off-road adventures” as an all-electric, all-wheel-drive, and exceedingly capable off-road EV.
The EV is 157 inches long, 74 inches wide, and tips the scales at just 2,530 lbs. Powered by a 42 kWh battery, the lightweight EV can sprint from zero to 60 mph in under 4 seconds while offering range of 170 miles.
The limited-edition EV will likely feature ultra-fast charging capabilities in ten minutes, given its partnership with Nyobolt. Callum and Nyobolt also worked with designer Julian Thompson on a Lotus Elise-inspired EV.
The Skye is currently being tested in Europe, with the first prototype expected to be delivered next spring. Although details are scarce, the company aims for a price of around $126,000.
OUR THOUGHTS
As EVs gain acceptance and popularity, more people will be looking for an EV with heavy-duty off-road capabilities, and unique design flair, and the Skye offers those features in abundance. As far as we know, there are no plans for U.S. sales just yet, but stay tuned.
