Back in May this year, we got a preview of the stunning Callum E-Type concept, a perfect blend of classic Jaguar ‘60s charm and a sleek modern design aesthetic. Now, the English designer is back with another showstopper: meet the Vanquish 25 Shooting Brake, a new twist on one of Aston Martin’s most iconic grand tourers, shared via a recent post on Instagram.
For those unaware, Callum is one of the most influential automotive designers of all time, with a career spanning decades, including nearly 20 noteworthy years at Jaguar, reshaping the marque’s lineup through the 2000s and 2010s. He also penned the original Aston Martin Vanquish and came up with a timeless shape that balances aggressive sportiness with refined British elegance.
The V12-powered Vanquish, of course, was Aston’s halo car of the era, and launched in 2001. It subsequently featured in the James Bond film Die Another Day the following year in ‘02. Fun fact: the green Jaguar XKR, seen in the iconic Pierce Brosnan chase scene on a frozen lake, is also a Callum design.
Fast forward to more recent times, and Callum’s independent design firm decided to revisit the model with a modern-day take on the original. Dubbed Callum Vanquish 25, the limited commission restomod (25 examples) built by U.K.-based R-Reforged, first broke cover in 2019. Callum subsequently teased the Vanquish 25 Shooting Brake in 2023, and it builds upon that already-stunning coupe. Without a doubt, you can best appreciate this new form and profile from the side and rear ¾ views.
Beyond the visual upgrades, the Coupe’s 6.0-liter V12 was uprated to produce 580 horsepower, up from 520, thanks to a carbon fiber intake, upgraded camshafts, and revised engine mapping, with the option to choose between a manual or automatic transmission. On the handling front, the car received Bilstein dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars, lowered ride height, and a wider track. Wider 20-inch wheels and more modern Michelin Pilot Sport tires with carbon ceramic brakes wrap up the upgrades.
But coming back to shooting brakes, the idea isn’t new if you look back at Aston’s own history. Back in the 1960s, the DB5 and DB6 shooting brakes were crafted by various coachbuilders like Harold Radford or FLM Panelcraft, for clients wanting something unique. The Virage adopted the Shooting Brake form in the 1990s and in 2014.
More recently, the Zagato Vanquish shooting brake, which debuted in 2017, limited to 99 units, was a hit, owing to its otherworldly take on the traditional two-door wagon form and Zagato’s signature double bubble roof. It certainly caught the attention of a select few out there, who still seek some practicality and space from a high-performance sports car, all while being wrapped in an exquisite coach-built package. Ian Callum’s Vanquish 25 Shooting Brake fits right into that same tradition.
Our recent review of the latest Vanquish was all praises about modern tech and all the high-end upgrades, but if you’re a fan of the original Vanquish shape and are looking for something more pragmatic and tailored to today’s standards, this shooting brake will bring things up to speed and should certainly be on your radar.
No word on pricing or specifications just yet, but for some context, the coupe cost £550,000 (~$740k) when it debuted. As for this shooting brake, Callum Designs says that it is purely conceptual for now, and interested parties should get in touch with them to find out more. Expect the same level of performance, sophistication, craftsmanship, and crucially, exclusivity in this more evocative bodystyle. Watch this space.
Images Source: Callum Designs, Aston Martin