REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Nostalgic and sensual

Since most of its admirers tended to look rather than buy, to increase sales Jaguar had no other choice but to offer a more affordable automobile. The S-Type, introduced in the spring of 1999, has climbed down off its aristocratic pedestal to join forces with the middle class, territory unfamiliar to Jaguar since the 1960s.What you have to remember from the start is that this is a genuine Jaguar, which means that aesthetics are the builder’s prime concern, maybe even to the detriment of practicality. As proof, look at the roof’s dipping line: elegant, sensual, retro, but once you’ve scraped your skull as you get into the rear seat, will you still find it as beautiful? As for the shallow trunk, its only saving grace is a fold-down seat (yes, you heard right) that provides more cargo space at the cost of rear passengers.

That said, you don’t climb up into a Jaguar, you glide down into it. And the S-Type has bucket seats that are positioned very low and a belt line that is very high, making you feel cramped. And to make matters worse, the seat cushions are still very short (obviously some things never change), which has the driver perched on the very edge of the seat. After oiling your hands (literally) as you search for the power seat controls (there ’ s no leather shield designed to hide innards), take look at the instrument panel. The Jaguar identity isn’t as strong as usual, as witnessed by the wood inlays (maple instead of walnut) and the flasher arm, whose shape and sound are similar to what you find on a Ford Focus. What ’ s more, the storage space is limited and lacks functionality, and the new owner will be greeted by a chorus of creaks that tell you the S-Type won ’ t age well.

The S-Type has a voice-command system which allows you to control the air conditioning, dial a phone number or change the radio station without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road (there ’ s a total of 44 different voice-command functions in English.)While the S-Type’s interior design is disappointing, its road capabilities are more in keeping with that to which we`ve become accustomed with this make. But before getting behind the wheel, a few words to say that without Ford, the new owner of the Coventry facilities, the S-Type would never have seen the light of day. My apologies to purists, but this model was developed in tandem with the Lincoln LS, and both cars share the same platform, which in the near future will be used on the new Thunderbird and Mustang. Still, Jaguar has been careful to give the S-Type very British qualities.

It’s also good to know that the S-Type is available in two versions, depending on the engine displacement. The more affordable, the 3.0, uses a 240-hp six-cylinder similar to the unit Lincoln has chosen for the LS. Any differences? Many. To protect the make’s status, engine displacement, maximum power and maximum torque, to name only a few elements, are different from those found on the LS.

The same goes for the 4.0, the other version, which features a V8 (280-hp output) designed to meet the specifications set and achieved by British engineers. One small detail: the V8 in question is almost identical to the one that has been found for some time under the hood of other members of the Jaguar family (XJ and XK). Both the V6 and the V8 power the rear-driven wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. Is a manual available? Yes, but it’s exclusive to the European market, as is the turbo-diesel that this Jaguar should get within a few months. To end this technical tour, note that the S-Type is the first Jaguar available in North America to be equipped with the CATS (Computer Active Technology System), whose electronic sensors are designed to analyze the vehicle’s body movement (acceleration, braking, sway when cornering) and as easy as A-B-C, at the same time to change suspension calibration (smooth to firm).

It ’ s too bad, but when we scheduled our test drive no S-Type models equipped with CATS were available. Still, it gave us the opportunity of comparing the handling differences between models equipped with six- and eight-cylinder engines. Although it may not live up to all you expect from a Jaguar, the V6 should be your choice if you’re main concerns don’t include reaching the next red light at the head of the pack (top speed, limited electronically, is identical on both models, the sport group excepted).Lighter by 120 kilograms and with a slightly better balanced weight distribution (51/49 versus 52/48), I felt the V6 to be more energetic, more neutral and with slightly less oversteering than its V8 counterpart. More sluggish (acceleration and pick-up) and louder, the V6 certainly proved to be less than best buddies with its automatic transmission, a better match for the V8, which is able to capitalize on its sheer power. Lastly, although responsive and precise, unlike a BMW, for example, the steering system doesn’t provide perfect feedback. Instead, it prefers to keep the driver reassured and relaxed, a trait that reflects this car’s image to the letter.

There is a $10,000 difference between the 3,0-litre (V6) and the 4,0-litre (V8), but I would definitely choose the 4,0 litre. It is more powerful, better equipped, and better meets my expectations for a Jaguar. However, considering the price tag, you have to admit that there are other cars on the market which are just as luxurious and powerful, but also more capable than this Jaguar. But of course, no other car looks as good.

PROS
Elegant styling
4,0-litre model well equipped and powerful
The old dependabilty is back

CONS
Strained relationship between V6 and transmission
Uncomfortable seats
Disappointing interior appearance