What's all this about?

Ian Callum, the Scottish designer who had a significant hand in the appearance of the Aston Martins DB7 and DB9, and the 2006 Jaguar XK as well - among much more - left Jaguar Land Rover in 2019. When he did, he set up his own Warwick-based design and engineering company, to which he gave his surname. Well, this is the first product to come from Callum (the company) that was entirely conceived, designed, engineered and developed in-house. And we bet you were expecting a sports car, weren't you?

I was. So what is it?

It's called the Callum Skye and it's an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) - kind of like a quad bike or one of those Argocats (other brands of eight-wheeled off-road device are available) would fall into the same category. Except, obviously, the Skye looks far more luxurious and road-ready than many ATVs. It has a fully enclosed 2+2-seater cabin, for one thing, something which makes it unique in the sector, while it is also powered by electricity.

Details are thin on the ground at the moment - this is a sneak-peek look at a vehicle that should be hitting the market around spring 2024 - but Callum says the Skye will have a 42kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for up to 170 miles of off-road adventure. Yet the fun doesn't have to stop there, because said battery can be recharged in less than ten minutes at its maximum (presently unspecified) charging rate.

And as the thing is only 4,047mm long and 1,900mm wide, and built on a spaceframe chassis, it's therefore reasonably light. A target weight of 1,150kg is on the table, with that mass split 50:50 evenly across the ATV. No word on the outputs, but the Callum Skye should have enough oomph to go from 0-62mph in around (or less than) four seconds. It also has trail-rated suspension, which means it should be able to soak up the off-road bumps, even if you're caning it.

Sounds intriguing. Is there anything else to add?

Only a few words from the man behind his eponymous company himself. Ian Callum, head of design for the firm, said: "I believe the Skye is truly authentic - unique in concept and presence in the market. At four metres long, the Callum Skye is dramatically proportioned with a concise exterior aesthetic driven by its capabilities. It has been designed to exceed expectations: minimal mass, maximum capability - exceptionally usable and an absolute joy to drive."

Prices and exact specifications for the Callum Skye should be revealed in the early part of 2024, and anyone who'd like to register their interest in the ATV should head on over to www.callumdesigns.com/SKYE right away.