Archive for category: News

• A thoroughly reengineered Jaguar C-X75, created by CALLUM, takes the car to its ultimate road-going conclusion
• Bespoke commission blends customer’s wishes with the original designer’s aim, producing a capable, refined and elegant supercar
• All-new interior, enhanced powertrain and active aero result in a driver-focussed machine, engineered to enjoy every day
• Download high resolution images here

CALLUM has completed a second customer commission of the Jaguar C-X75, meticulously addressing every element to deliver the most refined iteration of the iconic supercar. Truly bespoke, it follows CALLUM’s earlier transformation of one of the four stunt cars used in the James Bond film Spectre. This time, CALLUM has gone beyond the core practicalities of readying C-X75 for the road by engineering performance, comfort and convenience into the essence of the car. Fulfilling the customer’s wish for a C-X75 that realises the promise of the original concept, the result is a thrilling, engaging and very personal commission of a much admired car.

Working in close collaboration with the owner of the C-X75, CALLUM ensured that each request – no matter how detailed or complex – was expertly integrated into the final build. Drawing on CALLUM’s previous experience transforming stunt car 007 for road use, this new commission using Car 001 goes far beyond the hundreds of standard modifications necessary for achieving Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) certification. Car 001 now features a reengineered drivetrain, active aero and an exquisite and contemporary interior that dramatically enhance the driving experience.

“C-X75 was ‘the one that got away’ – a car brimming with unfulfilled potential,” says Ian Callum, who led the team that created the car in 2010 and is now design director and co-founder of CALLUM. “We’ve combined the customer’s wishes with carefully engineered solutions to bring C-X75 to the thoroughly satisfying conclusion it always deserved.”

The supercharged V8 engine is now mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Thanks to CALLUM’s in-house software and proprietary body and comfort electronics, C-X75 now offers the ability to perform as a usable road car or, when desired, switch into a dynamic sporting mode. On command, gear shifts become sharper, throttle response is more immediate and the exhaust system, tuned by an acoustic expert, enhances the experience with its exhilarating soundtrack.

To complement the increased performance, CALLUM’s engineers developed an advanced active aero package. At speeds above 60km/h it provides additional downforce to increase stability and deliver confidence-inspiring handling. An air brake function bleeds in added control during hard braking. For urban driving, a hydraulic front lift suspension offers enhanced practicality. Through extensive testing, CALLUM honed its road-focused setup, resulting in neutral, predictable balance through sweeping turns and arrow-straight stability where higher speeds are legally possible. The original front 20” and rear 21” wheels are wrapped in Michelin’s acclaimed Pilot Sport 4S tyres – ideal for road and occasional track use.

CALLUM’s designers seized the opportunity to take the exterior to the next level whilst retaining the much-admired form. Over 1,000 hours of craftsmanship went into perfecting the car’s bodywork, including precise panel alignment and a lustrous deep paint finish in Willow Green. Combining earthy tones with a hint of yellow, this gentle and natural shade is inspired by the soft muted hues of the willow tree’s delicate leaves. Distinctive touches – such as machined-from-solid, brushed aluminium finish window surrounds, bespoke filler cap and visual carbon fibre accents for the quarter light intakes and diffuser, along with the polished metal grille – contribute to the car’s striking presence. Further subtle exterior details include an etched C-X75 emblem on the exhaust tailpipe and enhanced light diffusion from the rear lights.

Inside, the transformation is more dramatic. The stunt car’s functional cockpit is replaced with a driver-centric, premium environment. The interior features a sophisticated blend of dark green and cream tones, split by a bold and dynamic 40-degree-angled “waterline” that runs through the cabin. “Sporting cars typically feature darker interiors, while comfort is often associated with lighter shades,” explains CALLUM’s head of design, Aleck Jones. “We wanted to fuse those elements in a dynamic way to reflect the dual nature of this car.”

Interior surfaces span a variety of leather textures, accentuated by a prominent metal “Arrowhead Necklace” feature that encircles the cockpit before plunging down the centre console. Three tactile rotary controls, all angled toward the driver, each with integrated touchscreens, continue the theme of clean lines. A wireless charging pad and Apple CarPlay offer an intuitive user interface and seamlessly connect with a powerful, bespoke sound system featuring punchy subwoofers and a crisp-sounding centre speaker concealed behind CALLUM’s signature deconstructed tartan.

The minimalist cockpit is crowned by an acrylic cowl that covers the digital instrument cluster, while all other controls, including the start button, are in a roof-mounted console – a nod to aircraft design whilst ensuring the pure cabin lines are retained. “Clean and beautiful, the interior is simple, not simplistic,” adds Jones. The seats, chosen specifically by the customer for optimal support, are upholstered in supple Bridge of Weir leather and complemented by three-point seat belts for added convenience. The steering wheel is custom-machined from solid billet to the customer’s exact specifications. A digital rear-view mirror, an electronic park brake integrated with the transmission and an immobiliser with ‘blipper’ key are further examples of the lengths CALLUM has gone to transform the stunt car.

“While engineering a raw stunt car into a refined modern supercar with all the expected attributes presented significant challenges, finding the right solutions excited us all,” says CALLUM’s engineering director, Adam Donfrancesco. “Integrating features including aircon and premium audio whilst also balancing the NVH, refinement and hygiene factors such as engineering the door seals to keep the elements out, all whilst ensuring it still sounded mega, was a formidable but thrilling challenge and the results speak for themselves.”

As well as pushing the envelope of C-X75’s performance and refinement, CALLUM’s engineers also embraced advanced additive manufacturing with partner Stratasys. Innovations in materials and processes enabled CALLUM to create complex forms, unlocking more elegant design solutions previously not possible. Applications include a substantial number of the interior elements, such as the sill trim that ingeniously incorporates cup holders, highlighting CALLUM’s ability to blend functionality with form.

This refined C-X75 is the latest in a growing list of ‘bespoke’ one-of-one projects that CALLUM is delivering from its Warwick, UK, headquarters. “Through the reengineering of this one-off supercar along with the electrification and validation of a lightweight sportscar, the limited production run of our own CALLUM Vanquish 25, as well as low volume interior design and manufacture programmes for cars such as the Prodrive P25, CALLUM is demonstrating its prowess at bringing a vision to an on-road reality,” adds CALLUM’s managing director, David Fairbairn.

Download high resolution images here.

October, 22nd, 2024 – Trusted website for mobile home and caravanners ProMobil, has revealed that Falken has topped its 2024 all-terrain tyre test in the 255/55 R 18 size. Competing against six other patterns, the Falken WILDPEAK A/T AT3WA emerged as the clear off-road test winner. The Falken tyres impressed the judges in almost all test categories and beat well-known competitors.

The comprehensive test covers various disciplines, including traction, braking performance and handling on different surfaces such as snow, wet and dry roads and off-road. The independent testers specifically highlighted the above-average performance of Falken’s all-terrain product on gravel and in mud, where the Falken WILDPEAK A/T AT3WA excelled with outstanding traction and handling.

Falken’s all-terrain product also proved what it is capable of in various weather conditions. On snow, it delivered a solid performance in the acceleration and stopping distance categories. The tyre was also rated “good” both for lateral stability and on the snow-covered circular track. On wet roads, the tyre impressed with excellent lateral acceleration and a short braking distance performance. Its aquaplaning properties were also impressive. With 8.4 out of 10 possible points, it was able to secure first place in this test.

The off-road tyre didn’t only live up to its reputation in the wet and snow: it also demonstrated first-class performance in the handling test on dry roads and a rolling noise on asphalt of 73.4 dB (A) at 80 km/h with the engine switched off. The tyre excelled in particular in the off-road test: on crushed stones and gravel, it was virtually the only one to attain at least a “good” rating in almost all the tests. These included excellent acceleration and braking results on crushed stones, achieving the best score in this category at 11.2 metres.

“Test winner due to best all-round features and overall performance on and off road,” the testers concluded.

Download high resolution image here.

• ZF’s launches a new dedicated 800V Test & Validation facility at its R&D Hub near Solihull to foster the development and deployment of the next-generation of electric vehicles (EVs).
• Partially funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), ZF’s cutting-edge 800V Test & Validation Laboratory is the first of its kind in the UK for the company.
• Commercial vehicle fuel cell compressor among first projects to use the facility
• Site will also support IMechE high voltage training of future engineers

Solihull, UK. ZF recently opened the UK’s first-of-its-kind HV Test & Validation Laboratory at its R&D Hub near Solihull. The main aim is to accelerate the adoption of 800V architectures with improved efficiency, charging and vehicle performance advantages for electric vehicles (EVs)

Developed and installed with a project cost partially funded by the APC, the 800V Test & Validation Laboratory will offer ZF and its customers much-needed specialist hazardous voltage (HV) testing capacity to roll out its introduction and benefits.

To enable more next-generation mobility projects to take advantage of the benefits of switching to 800V, ZF will also offer validation testing to third parties. The facility already holds several national, international and customer accreditations to work with tier-one suppliers and OEMs.

“OEMs want the compelling benefits of 800V but finding facilities capable of validating these higher-rated systems has not been easy,” says Adrian Mitcham, Head of Special Applications at ZF.  “Just like our world-class EMC and climatic chambers on the same site, we plan to offer 800V validation services to external organisations so that more of the benefits can be realised in the wider mobility sector.”

Currently, most EVs are based on 400V architectures and need approximately 20 minutes of charging to add 200 kilometres of range. An 800V EV would need just half that time. 800V systems unlock further efficiencies such as lower gauge and therefore lighter wiring. When combined with Silicon Carbide MOSFETs, up to 10 percent efficiency gains are possible, which could ultimately lead to downsized batteries or improved vehicle range.

ZF has developed a highly scalable and modular inverter architecture that allows maximum flexibility in both 400V and 800V voltage classes and the facility is now ramping up testing for ZF’s global product development teams. One of the first developments tested was for truck and bus applications, with ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division using the facility to validate a new fuel cell air compressor for the segment. More recently, ZF CVS validated a new fuel cell Hydrogen Recirculation Blower, which the company unveiled at the IAA Transportation 2024 last month.

The 800V Test & Validation Laboratory is ZF’s first dedicated facility and one of just a handful in the UK. Measuring 46sqm, the unit can accommodate anything from the smallest modules to a full E-drive truck axle. It was designed from the ground up by ZF’s HV team with safety paramount. An interlocked and monitored door ensures the entire laboratory forms a secure safety cell. A number of other safety measures have been undertaken as part of the installation, including active discharge resistance to remove hazardous energy as quickly as possible in an emergency and having instrumentation accessed over an optically isolated link. The facility has been designed with future expansion in mind: adjacent, additional floorspace is available if required, while the infrastructure is also future-proofed with power supplies capable of handling 1,500V DC at 45kW, with the possibility to increase this to 90kW.

The new Hazardous Voltage Testing (HV) Laboratory can combine voltage testing at various levels which can be combined with vibration and temperature testing where necessary.

The site will also be made available for academic projects. The site is already actively supporting the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) HV training and ZF plans to use the 800V Test & Validation Laboratory to ready engineers in the UK to be capable of working safely on such systems.

The Audi A3 allstreet, the characterful crossover model from the Audi A3 family, is fitted with AZENIS FK510A AO (Audi Original) tyres. In Ingolstadt, where the Audi is produced, tyres have been supplied in 205/55R17 95W XL, 225/45R18 95W XL and 225/49R19 93W XL sizes since April 2024.

Both the SUV and standard versions of the Falken AZENIS FK510 are popular with performance-focused drivers, and many independent reviewers have also been impressed by the tyre. “Exemplary” was the appraisal from AUTO BILD magazine after examining eleven high-performance tyres in its big summer tyre test in 2022.

The AUTO BILD test quickly showed that the Falken AZENIS FK510 can hold its own during both wet and dry braking. On wet asphalt, the Falken’s emergency stop braking distance of 47.9 metres from 100 km/h is only two metres behind the best-placed car in the category. Falken tyres proved effective on the watered circular track and were less than one second behind the winner in the category. When it comes to safety, aquaplaning is also a key factor. This is another area in which the Falken tyres demonstrate their strengths: with a float speed of 98 km/h when measured on the rain-soaked surface, the Falken was more than a match against several competitors.

The excellent wet-weather properties are a result of the consistent application of Falken’s advanced 4D NANO design technology. The specially developed rubber compound helps create a particularly strong grip on wet surfaces. This is supported by special “blade sipes” - small incisions in the tread that break open the film of water to prevent aquaplaning and enable optimal contact with the road.

Not only does the innovative rubber compound provide excellent grip in wet conditions, it is also abrasion-resistant. The “Adaptive Constant Pressure” technology developed by Falken ensures pressure distribution on the surface of the road, allowing the AZENIS FK510 to achieve optimal fuel efficiency. The tyres also have low rolling resistance, which further reduces consumption.

“The AZENIS FK510 boasts outstanding driving dynamics, high safety standards and durability, all made possible by innovative technology. We are convinced that this product will fully meet the high standards of the drivers of the Audi A3 allstreet,” says Christian Stolting, OE Sales Director at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH.

The FALKEN AZENIS FK510 is available in 29 sizes in the series 25 to 55 and from 17 to 22 inches and approved for speeds of up to over 300 km/h.

Download high resolution images here.

Falken’s latest film, “Why We Race” was named ‘Best Event Film’ at this year’s International Motor Film Awards, which took place at Alexandra Palace, London on Friday 04 October 2024.

The fifth year in which a piece by Falken has been nominated for the prize, this was also the third time the global tyre brand has taken home the trophy – with “Whatever Comes Our Way” (2021) and “A Monument To The Art Of Racing” (2023) both previous winners.

With over 3.6 million views to-date, the award-winning film was created in collaboration with Motionctrl and Tobias Kahler. Released in July, it follows the relentless pursuit and unwavering passion of the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

Amongst the fog that dominated this year’s storyline, “Why We Race” showcases the ceaseless dedication, drive for perfection and spirit of endurance that fuels the team’s quest – year after year, hour after hour, lap after lap.

Dennis Wilstermann, assistant manager marketing at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explains: “Winning ‘best event film’ at the International Motor Film Awards is a special honour for us. Being recognised for our efforts in such a prestigious event from among such strong competition shows that we can stand our ground with our passion and dedication in a high-profile, demanding environment. Congratulations to everyone but especially Tobias Kahler and his talented team.”

The International Motor Film Awards honour outstanding achievements in directing and production in the automotive and motorsport sectors and are supported by experts from the across the industry as well as representatives from the film and television industry.

View the award-winning film, “Why We Race”, here.

Download high resolution images here.