Jaguar design director Ian Callum has been named ‘Industry Innovator of the Year’ at a special event at the Detroit motor show.
Callum (pictured) received the gong at the glitzy 2014 Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) awards for his contribution to automotive design.
MAIN’s executive committee praised Jaguar for its distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics.
Chairman Keith Nagara said: “Ian Callum has led the design revolution at Jaguar that has helped transform the brand, most recently demonstrated by the launch of the stunning F-Type Coupé. This is a brand that is going from strength to strength.”
Scotsman Callum joined Jaguar in 1999 and has since styled Jaguars XK, XF, XJ and F-Type. Along the way he has picked up five honorary doctorates from universities around the world
Callum’s latest example to arrive in New Zealand is the XF Black edition, powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel and available as a sedan or Sportbrake wagon in three colours: Ultimate Black, Polaris White and Rhodium Silver.
It is so named because of the black finishing to the front grille surround, lower spoiler blades, window surrounds, rear boot blade, and black 20-inch Kalimnos alloy wheels. The black treatment continues inside.
The XF Black sport sedan is available from $115,000 and the XF Black Sportbrake from $120,000.
• I had dinner with Callum a few years ago at a restaurant in Sydney. We spent a few hours talking about things he could confirm and things he couldn’t, or wouldn’t. We chatted about the look of the iconic C-, D-, and E-Types; what the F-Type might look like; would the upcoming small Jaguar sedan follow design cues; would Jaguar build a smaller version of the F-Type; what he liked about the design of this car and that car. Towards the end of dinner I asked him to sketch on a white linen napkin a coupe blending the best of two-door Jaguar and Aston Martin design. A few brush strokes with a pen and a sleek shape began to take form. Then he stopped. “I don’t think I should finish this,” he said, smiling and perhaps fearing that a complete sketch would find its way into print. He folded the napkin and slipped it into his pocket. Pity, I was going to ask him to sign the finished product so I could frame and hang it on a wall.