Callum Designs, a UK-based design and engineering consultancy, has fully showcased the exterior of two reimagined versions of the famed Jaguar XJ220 supercar. It’s best known for making limited-edition versions of Mini and Aston Martin models alongside reimagined Jaguar E-Types and even bespoke marine commissions. Callum Designs is headed by Ian Callum, former design director for Jaguar.
- Callum Designs specialises in bespoke commissions
- Concepts borrow design cues from the Jaguar XJ220 and XJ220 S
XJ220 by Callum Designs
While the interior of this concept is yet to be revealed, Callum Designs has revealed its exterior from various angles. “This is a contemporary interpretation of one of the most iconic supercars ever made,” the company stated. Some of the visual similarities with the original Jaguar XJ220 include bits such as the oval-shaped front intake and side windows, a similar location for the side ducts, plus a steeply raked windscreen. Another design nod to the XJ220 are the concentric arcs integrated into the bonnet area, at the base of the windscreen. The flared haunches on either side of the bonnet are also design cues found on the Jaguar XJ220.
The concept gets dual LED strips and a sporty-looking air splitter at the front and horizontal light bars and an air diffuser at the rear. The sportier-looking yellow concept is called the XJ220 GT1, and it takes inspiration from the first-ever Jaguar XJ220 S – this was built using spare parts from the brand’s Le Mans racers of the time.
According to Callum Designs, “the XJ220 concept and XJ220 GT1 explore different expressions of the same idea: reimagining an automotive icon through a contemporary lens.” Where the silver concept sticks closer to the “refined and elegant” proportions of the original XJ220, the yellow concept sits closer to the Le Mans-inspired XJ220 S and thus looks more dramatic. “Together, they showcase how a single design philosophy can evolve while remaining true to its origins,” said Callum Designs.
The intent with this project is expected to be more than just expanding the Callum Designs product portfolio. “This concept preserves the unmistakable silhouette of the original while redefining every surface, detail and proportion through a modern lens,” says Callum Designs. The company behind this project is currently calling it a “design study that showcases what is possible.” Callum Designs said that it’s trying to honour the past without being constrained by it.
The original Jaguar XJ220
The original Jaguar XJ220 was launched in 1992 at a price of GBP 470,000. It featured a lightweight aluminium honeycomb structure and was powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 550hp and 644Nm of torque. This allowed for a claimed top speed of 343kph, while 96kph from a standstill took less than 4 seconds. However, an XJ220 driven by Jaguar Le Mans winner and Formula One driver Martin Brundle set a Guinness World Record for the fastest production road car in 1992 by hitting a maximum speed of 349kph.
As for the vivid yellow Jaguar XJ220 S, the first car carried the chassis number '220‑803'. Not only did it boast an output of 700hp, it also featured a reworked suspension over the first model. The XJ220 S used quite a bit of carbon fibre, featuring it for the front and rear clamshells.
Glenn Noronha
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