Callum Skye Previews High-Performance, Premium EV UTV
With the proliferation of electric vehicles and the modularity of battery platforms, the UTV space is about to be inundated with options that otherwise might not have been able to exist. One example of such is the new Callum Skye, an all-electric side-by-side type vehicle that promises to be "The world's most beautiful high-performance, multi-terrain vehicle." Callum quotes a 0-60 MPH time of under four seconds, pairing sports car-like performance figures with go-anywhere capability.
Callum isn't a brand or even name that most in the side-by-side space are familiar with. The company lives under the nomenclature of high-recognized British automotive designer Ian Callum. Since departing Jaguar a few years back, Callum has been pointing his proverbial pencils at a new realm for exploration, namely his self-titled company's Skye two-plus-two sports-off-roader-thing. Callum's work can be found as the Jaguar C-X75 (featured in the James Bond film Spectre), Jaguar F-Type, Ford RS2000 and Escort Cosworth, Aston Martins such as the DB7, DB9, Vanquish, and so on. Callum is unquestionably one of the most storied automotive designers of this generation.
Aside from the designer, the Skye isn't anything like the aforementioned iconic vehicles. It will launch with two models, Dynamic and Capable, which split the machine's virtues for either on of off-road priorities. Either is configured as a 2+2 with small bucket seats in the back, and all-wheel-drive is standard. It weighs in at 1,150 kg (2535.316 pounds), which puts it right around Mazda Miata weight). That's remarkably light for an all-electric, AWD vehicle. Dynamic models get street tires while the Capable is outfitted with BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3s (or at least the prototype photos and renders are). Other details are slim, but some outlets report a 300-horsepower, 42 kWh battery good for 170 miles of range and a charging time of 10 minutes from zero to 100 percent. Pricing is TBD, but don't expect it to be a small number given this is a bespoke, limited-run EV.
Ross hosts The Off the Road Again Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast and spends his free time working on and riding ATVs.
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