Wednesday 9th November 2011

Jag design boss denies Winslet claim

Kate Winslet inspired the XK? Not actually true, Ian Callum tells PH

---

What's on your mind Mr Callum?

Jaguar design boss Ian Callum was at the Dunhill shop in London last night, talking about the future of car design with Martin Brundle. And very highbrow it was too, until PH asked a mildly seedy question about, if not Kate Winslet, who Callum, um, had in mind with his current designs.

This relates to the widely reported (at the time) story that Callum had based the curves of the current XK on those of said star, an anecdote perpetuated by Winslet in an appearance on the Jay Leno show. So did he?

Er, no. As it turns out. Which was a little embarrassing for us.

Does my bum look big in this Jag?

Chatting with Callum afterwards we got to the bottom of the story. And it seems he was stitched up by a journalist. Who'd have thought, eh? At the time of the launch of the car he spent some time driving around LA in it with a local showbiz reporter. "She couldn't drive so I was actually driving her around," he says. "And she kept saying it's so voluptuous, it must be inspired by a woman." He protested otherwise, telling us he doesn't "do that sex in car design stuff" but she persisted. And after a couple of days slipped the question "who's your final actress then?" Callum answered Winslet and, boom, the legend was born, the XK arguably a better likeness of Winslet than that achieved by Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.

Does Callum resent the mix-up? Seemingly not - "why let the facts get in the way of a story" his assessment. And, no, he didn't tell us who he was thinking of when he designed the XJ.

 

[Beyond Rational]

And that, was kind of, difficult to read.

Final Actress?

[Ex Boy Racer]

so come on... which actress reminds PH'ers of their favourite car.
I'm starting with (last series) Megane and Jennifer Lopez...

Edited by Ex Boy Racer on Wednesday 9th November 15:08

[matchmaker]

Ex Boy Racer said:

so come on... which actress reminds PH'ers of their favourite actress.
I'm starting with (last series) Megane and Jennifer Lopez...

[VladD]

[Cotic]

"And, no, he didn't tell us who he was thinking of when he designed the XJ."

Miranda Hart springs to mind.

[lionrampant]

Slow news day lads?

[cookie1600]

Mini Coupe:



Chantelle or Shaz from Brentwood

[TheEnd]

Asking the questions that no others dare.

[Emeye]

I assumed he was inspired by the last Aston Martin he designed, which was inspired by the Aston he designed before that, etc etc....

[Vilhelm]

Has Pistonheads merged with the Daily Mail?

[Tom74]

Can some please explain what this bit means?

article said:

Callum answered Winslet and, boom, the legend was born, the XK arguably a better likeness of Winslet than that achieved by Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.

Wasn't aware Dicaprio was a Winslet impersonator!

[New POD]

cookie1600 said:

Mini Coupe:



Chantelle or Shaz from Brentwood

At least Sharan and Charntel might (with luck) improve with age, whereas the coupe will always be pointless and ugly. It'll be a classic because it'll be rare, like the allegro vandom plas is rare.

[davepoth]

Tom74 said:

Can some please explain what this bit means?

article said:

Callum answered Winslet and, boom, the legend was born, the XK arguably a better likeness of Winslet than that achieved by Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.

Wasn't aware Dicaprio was a Winslet impersonator!

I can't believe I'm about to post this.

In Titanic Dicaprio's character sketches Winslet's character. She was naked though, so that sort of makes the fact I know about it OK.

[DS240]

Phew, the answer is finally out there!

[LuS1fer]

New POD said:

At least Sharan and Charntel might (with luck) improve with age, whereas the coupe will always be pointless and ugly. It'll be a classic because it'll be rare, like the allegro vandom plas is rare.

Do you mean the Vanden Plas or the Dick & Dom Plas?

[morgrp]

LuS1fer said:

Do you mean the Vanden Plas or the Dick & Dom Plas?

german for random