Ian Callum retired after 20 years of heading Jaguar’s design three years ago, after delivering a revitalised line-up of distinctively modern Jaguar cars, including their first electric SUV, the I-Pace. It seemed like a fitting point to leave but the timing coincided with the energetic Scot’s age of retirement. He wasn’t keen at that point to take on another new car cycle even though Jaguar’s chief executive, Ralf Speth, wanted Ian to stay on — at least to launch the new electric XJ which was nearly complete.
However plans were already afoot for Ian’s next venture — his own design company. Ian thought he could consult for Jaguar, but Covid then hit and Jaguar’s new management canned the XJ — one of many manufacturers who moved away from big saloons in favour of big SUVs.
Although he didn’t necessarily agree with that decision, Ian concedes that the SUVs were a necessary pivot — and he has one, the F-Pace, as his daily driver. He has previously said this SUV, which he designed on the XE platform, is his current favourite design.
Ian and partner Fiona who, incidentally, was head of Jaguar Land Rover global public relations, have houses in Dorset, and in Helensburgh near Loch Lomond, while his office is based in the middle of the UK’s car industry, in Warwickshire.
“We travel up and down the country so much, and the boot’s always full — Fiona collects mid- century furniture — and you start to realise you couldn’t live with an F-Type much in general terms but, I still miss it.”
