Jaguar surprises dealers with peek of new S-Type
Jaguar invited some of its dealers to the launch of the new XKR and surprised them with a private unveiling of the new S-Type sedan. Ford has been feeding rumors that the new S-Type's styling will be a major breakthrough for the brand, and reaction to the sneak peek at Jaguar's four-door feline seem to support that. The retro look has reportedly been ditched in favor of "heavy flanks", a four-door coupe profile and a "wide and deep grille flanked by prominent headlights". The car did suffer a setback when Jaguar dropped plans to build it on a modified aluminum XJ platform. Instead the new car will roll on the current model's (pictured) steel frame.
The new S-Type is still 12 months away from being publicly debuted, but dealers are notorious for being brutally honest about a car's potential, so their reaction to the car at the XKR introduction is a good sign.
[Source: CarKeys]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JC Whitless 2:02PM (7/03/2006)
So anyone have any leaks or anything on this? This might be the first case of Retro-Revision...
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Ben 2:08PM (7/03/2006)
I really like the look of the S type. It is a classic looking car. The X type does nothing for me.... looks to much like a glorified Ford. Will be interesting to see what the changes are on the "S" !!
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jeff 2:17PM (7/03/2006)
Retro-Revision... i like it, did you come up with that? Can't wait to see what they've got up their sleeve, and it sounds so far like its gonna be good. I'd say this is the make or break car for jaguar. The XK is solid, but the company could go either way depending on how the S-Type fares.
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aliasfox 2:51PM (7/03/2006)
The current S-Type is nice from the outside, but it's really too small by today's standards and is outclassed by others in the field. Maybe Ford can drop the GT's engine into the bay of the new car and we can have a nice set of ubersedans out there - M5, RS6, the new S-Type R... maybe Toyota and Nissan can drop something eyebrow-raising into the GS and the M...
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MikeInNC 3:09PM (7/03/2006)
Ben, despite the fact that I like the S-Type's looks, a lot (and I do mean a lot) of people thought it looked far too much like a re-skinned Taurus. I thought the S-Type R was brilliant. Looking forward to seeing what they've done with it. Maybe Jag can become the second arm of Ford to make money (outside of Volvo which is currently the only profitable division)
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Damon 3:37PM (7/03/2006)
MikelnNC - you left out Land Rover, Aston Martin and Mazda; all of those brands are also profitable for Ford. The Lincoln, Mercury, Ford and Jaguar brands are the unprofitable ones.
I love the looks of this car. I can't wait to see it in person. Also, I hope Jaguar doesn't jump into the SUV market. Land Rover already covers the premium SUV market for Ford and given the shrinking size of this market I'd prefer Jaguar focus on cars.
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Yaroukh 3:54PM (7/03/2006)
MikeInNC: Ford of Europe is profitable too
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richard elsbree 4:29PM (7/03/2006)
I wonder if they will give the back seat enough leg room for adults? Car makers
should realize that sometimes real people may sit back there.
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