2019-10-01 Robb Report

(John Hannent) #1
GUTTER CREDITS

ROBBREPORT.COM 87


WHEELS | Dream Machines

defines the flanks and facilitates air flow
on its sibling, the Chiron. All but replacing
that signature element are five round air
intakes on each side, the same as the 1990s
version. The smaller horseshoe grille is also
reflective of the latter, as is the rear wing.
Many of the changes in form serve to
complement the machine’s 8.0-liter W-16
engine packed with 1,600 hp, far more
muscle than the 611 hp, 3.5-liter V-12 found
in its predecessor’s most potent variant.
This allows the Centodieci to count off
zero to 62 mph in 2.4 seconds and run
with 100 more horses than the Chiron,
which weighs around an additional 44
pounds. And while the Chiron tops out at
261 mph, the Centodieci keeps pace with
Bugatti’s Divo at 236 mph, sharing an
emphasis on lateral acceleration.
“It’s the first time we have 1,600
hp,” notes Winkelmann. “And the car
can lead to a design language that is not
revolutionary but evolutionary.”
With first deliveries expected in 2021,
the Centodieci will be limited to only 10
examples, and each have been presold at
a base price of approximately $9 million.
That’s roughly three times the cost of a
Chiron—but who’s comparing? Viju Mathew

A-List Access: For inquiries about a waiting list,
contact Bugatti’s head of sales, Hendrik Malinowski,
at [email protected].

Ian Callum


After two decades with Jaguar,
its former director of design
is ready to be a solo act.

When he was 13 years
old, Ian Callum submitted
designs to Jaguar for
consideration—an early
example of his talent.
Though he didn’t land a job
back then, the 65-year-old
has been the marque’s
chief designer for the past
20 years. But now he has
taken the plunge and set
up his own, eponymous
design firm (callumdesigns
.com). And with that change
comes a renewed focus
(and, presumably, more
sketches). MARK EWING

What vehicle design themes
do you see for the coming
decade? We are about to go
through some of the biggest
changes ever. The electric
power train will allow more
flexibility in the aesthetic of
the car. Shorter front ends,

like in the Jaguar I-PACE, are
possible, but that is all offset
by the barrier crash testing.
That won’t change in the way
I’d like to see it. And there is
a lot of baroque styling at the
moment, a trend that includes
random surfacing and too many
lines, that I hope disappears
eventually and we can get back
to beauty and simplicity. Also
prevalent is the whole notion
of more brightwork [shiny trim
and finishes]. You see it in the
fashion world, in handbags,
leather goods and accessories.

Why form your own
company, Callum? I’m doing
it because I’ve always wanted
to. After working for 40 years
on production items, a designer
wants to create things for
the sake of it. I want to build
bespoke products, take on the
unusual—projects that challenge
and excite. I don’t want to lead
a design house that does a
kettle, a refrigerator. There will
be an emphasis on automotive,
lifestyle and travel. So it could
be a car, a piece of luggage,
an aircraft interior. I want
something more specialized,
more artisan. I want to get
my hands dirty. Time is of the
essence, and I want to be sure
I spend every minute doing
things I feel are right.

Tell us about the first
project from your studio,
the Aston Martin Vanquish
25 by Callum. The Vanquish
is a car that, 20 years after I
first sketched it, I still feel very
passionate about. I actually still
own one. For some time, I’ve
felt that it deserved “another
chapter” adding to its story,
and I was contemplating doing
something to my own car
before we started this project.
Since those sketches, I’ve
continued to learn but also
been able to reflect. I wanted
to apply that experience and
knowledge to the Vanquish.
There are other designs we
might revisit in the future, but
I also want Callum to create
new products with fresh
ideas. For me, inspiration is
available everywhere. It comes
from anything that makes me
look twice.

Q&A


Early drawings
from designer Ian
Callum when he
was a teenager.

IAN CALLUM ILLUSTRATION BY JOEL KIMMEL

ROBBREPORT.COM 87


WHEELS | Dream Machines

defines the flanks and facilitates air flow
on its sibling, the Chiron. All but replacing
that signature element are five round air
intakes on each side, the same as the 1990s
version. The smaller horseshoe grille is also
reflective of the latter, as is the rear wing.
Many of the changes in form serve to
complement the machine’s 8.0-liter W-16
engine packed with 1,600 hp, far more
muscle than the 611 hp, 3.5-liter V-12 found
in its predecessor’s most potent variant.
This allows the Centodieci to count off
zero to 62 mph in 2.4 seconds and run
with 100 more horses than the Chiron,
which weighs around an additional 44
pounds. And while the Chiron tops out at
261 mph, the Centodieci keeps pace with
Bugatti’s Divo at 236 mph, sharing an
emphasis on lateral acceleration.
“It’s the first time we have 1,600
hp,” notes Winkelmann. “And the car
can lead to a design language that is not
revolutionary but evolutionary.”
With first deliveries expected in 2021,
the Centodieci will be limited to only 10
examples, and each have been presold at
a base price of approximately $9 million.
That’s roughly three times the cost of a
Chiron—but who’s comparing? Viju Mathew


A-List Access: For inquiries about a waiting list,
contact Bugatti’s head of sales, Hendrik Malinowski,
at [email protected].


Ian Callum


After two decades with Jaguar,
its former director of design
is ready to be a solo act.

When he was 13 years
old, Ian Callum submitted
designs to Jaguar for
consideration—an early
example of his talent.
Though he didn’t land a job
back then, the 65-year-old
has been the marque’s
chief designer for the past
20 years. But now he has
taken the plunge and set
up his own, eponymous
design firm (callumdesigns
.com). And with that change
comes a renewed focus
(and, presumably, more
sketches). MARK EWING

What vehicle design themes
do you see for the coming
decade? We are about to go
through some of the biggest
changes ever. The electric
power train will allow more
flexibility in the aesthetic of
the car. Shorter front ends,

like in the Jaguar I-PACE, are
possible, but that is all offset
by the barrier crash testing.
That won’t change in the way
I’d like to see it. And there is
a lot of baroque styling at the
moment, a trend that includes
random surfacing and too many
lines, that I hope disappears
eventually and we can get back
to beauty and simplicity. Also
prevalent is the whole notion
of more brightwork [shiny trim
and finishes]. You see it in the
fashion world, in handbags,
leather goods and accessories.

Why form your own
company, Callum? I’m doing
it because I’ve always wanted
to. After working for 40 years
on production items, a designer
wants to create things for
the sake of it. I want to build
bespoke products, take on the
unusual—projects that challenge
and excite. I don’t want to lead
a design house that does a
kettle, a refrigerator. There will
be an emphasis on automotive,
lifestyle and travel. So it could
be a car, a piece of luggage,
an aircraft interior. I want
something more specialized,
more artisan. I want to get
my hands dirty. Time is of the
essence, and I want to be sure
I spend every minute doing
things I feel are right.

Tell us about the first
project from your studio,
the Aston Martin Vanquish
25 by Callum. The Vanquish
is a car that, 20 years after I
first sketched it, I still feel very
passionate about. I actually still
own one. For some time, I’ve
felt that it deserved “another
chapter” adding to its story,
and I was contemplating doing
something to my own car
before we started this project.
Since those sketches, I’ve
continued to learn but also
been able to reflect. I wanted
to apply that experience and
knowledge to the Vanquish.
There are other designs we
might revisit in the future, but
I also want Callum to create
new products with fresh
ideas. For me, inspiration is
available everywhere. It comes
from anything that makes me
look twice.

Q&A


Early drawings
from designer Ian
Callum when he
was a teenager.

IAN CALLUM ILLUSTRATION BY JOEL KIMMEL
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