IAN CALLUM CBE | THE EVERYTHING EV PODCAST

EV Channels Review

Ian Callum, a celebrated British car design icon, joins the Everything EV Podcast to share his insights on the electric vehicle landscape. Callum emphasizes the crucial role of 'cool' design in driving EV adoption, moving beyond quirky aesthetics to embrace contemporary style and balance. He recounts Jaguar's early exploration into electrification, starting with the conceptual CX75 hybrid in 2009, and discusses the challenges and strategic decisions involved in transitioning an established brand like Jaguar towards EVs. Callum expresses satisfaction with the Jaguar I-Pace's design, particularly its cab-forward stance and unique proportions enabled by the skateboard platform, though he reflects on potentially making the front grille less prominent. He praises the driving dynamics of EVs, highlighting their spontaneous acceleration and handling benefits due to a low center of gravity, while acknowledging the need to temper performance for range. Callum commends Porsche, Audi, and Volkswagen's dedicated EV platforms for their design direction, suggesting that creating distinct styling for electric models is key to establishing a new brand image.