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2005 Jaguar S-Type 3.0 Road Test

Stirred, Not Shaken

Suppose its 1962 and you have just pulled off a heist at Harrods Department store in jolly olde London Towne, England. Your wheelman will likely have your getaway car staged on Brompton Road, engine running in preparation for a quick getaway. If hes worth his salt or the bags of British pounds sterling you have promised to share with him, he will proceed to demonstrate his Stirling Moss driving ability at the wheel of a Jaguar Mark II.

The Mark II was the fastest British saloon car of its day, provided the 3.8-liter straight-six growled beneath its bonnet. If your wheelmans knowledge of Jaguars was a wee bit dodgy and he mistakenly acquired the leisurely-paced 2.4-liter Mark II, Scotland Yard would undoubtedly be on your tail faster than you could say, "Blimey, looks like were knicked." You see, the

Jaguar drew on the legendary Mark II for inspiration when designing the current S-Type. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

speed of the Mark II 3.8 was equally as popular with the police as it was with the bad guys.

Its this legendary saloon car (four-door sedan) that Jaguar drew its inspiration from in designing the S-Type, which hit the market in late 1999 as a 2000 model. Although the styling of the S-Type is pushing six years old without any significant revisions, I continue to admire how faithfully its lines capture the spirit and exotic design elements of the 1960s Mark II., The nod to the mighty Mark II goes further

The S-Type continues to be built in England using primarily Jaguar-exclusive parts. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

than looks alone, however, thanks to the highly praised undercarriage architecture it shares with Fords Lincoln LS. But Jaguar purists need not feel that the British gene pool has been overly contaminated. The S-Type continues to be built in England using primarily Jaguar-exclusive parts.

For 2005, Jaguar designers freshened the lower front fascia of the S-Type and refocused the cats tail by subtly squaring-off its tapering trunk and rear-quarter-panels. As Malcolm the Jaguar rep pointed out, Jag styling evolves very slowly. Do anything too dramatic in restyling a classic

Jag styling evolves very slowly. Do anything too dramatic in restyling a classic cat and you can expect to hear from the legions of its loyal devotees. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

cat and you can expect to hear from the legions of its loyal devotees. Therefore, a keen eye is needed to spot the re-shaping for 05, which gives it a stronger presence from the rear. Fortunately these alterations have not weakened the visual tie-in to the Mark II, which can be seen most dramatically in the grille and headlight arrangement of the current model. Jaguar keeners will no doubt spot the spirit of the Mark II in the rear windscreen of the S-Type as well.

Jaguar heritage is equally evident inside the S-Type. Settling into a Jag has always been a visceral experience denoted by the smell and feel of stitched

Settling into a Jag has always been a visceral experience denoted by the smell and feel of stitched leather upholstery and genuine wood trim. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

leather upholstery and genuine wood trim, both of which are abundant in the opulent cabin of the S-Type. The Champagne and Ivory color scheme in my tester was beautifully matched to the bronze Madrona wood veneer gracing the dashboard, doors and center console. During assembly, each piece of veneer is hand matched to ensure color and grain consistency car-to-car, resulting in the exclusive claim that two Jags will display identical wood grains.

The interior fit-and-finish in my tester was consistent with premium-car standards and the non-organic materials used were first-rate. Ergonomically, this cat is well-adjusted and free of the peculiarities sometimes associated with cars from the UK. The heated, leather- covered

Falling nicely beneath the drivers right hand is a genuine wooden gearshift knob leading the shift lever through Jaguars traditional "J" shift gate. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

front buckets provided fatigue-free support. Obtaining the perfect driving position was easily accomplished using a multi-function control to set the pedal distance plus steering wheel height and distance.

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