Spy Shots: 2008 Jaguar S-Type
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 27th 2006 at 7:57AM 
The snappers under the employ of Hans Lehmann were able to catch a few shots of the new Jaguar S-Type undergoing testing in the deserts of Cali. Not content to leave well enough alone, they took it upon themselves to render what this '08 S-Type may look like, sans camo.According to Lehmann's own insider sources, the new front end will receive an oval mesh grille, with a chrome bar that divides the opening and provides a place to attach the cat's emblem. A dual, single unit headlamp arrangement will be partnered with integrated fog lamps and the overall shape of the front will gain more fluidity.
Since this new Jag intends to pick a fight with the BMW 5-series, the options under the hood are of particular importance. Either a 3-liter V6 or a 2.7-liter turbo diesel will cover the low end of the S-Type range, while buyers with more benjis can equip their cat with a 4.2-liter V8 producing 300 HP or the XKR's V8 that pushes out 420 HP.
It's expected that we'll see the new S-type early in 2008, full redesigned and ready to compete with the great luxury marques of its day.
[Source: The Car Connection]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Scott 8:08AM (10/27/2006)
Hmmm. Well, first of all these renderings were done a while ago, they're not new and they're really just based on the XK coupe's rear and someone who saw the S-Type naked, not that spy shot which shows the current gen as a test mule. Also, since the current 3.0L V6 is derived from the Ford Duratec 3.0, I would hope the lower end Jag's start to get a high-end version of the new Duratec 3.5L, and the 4.2L V8 really needs to go over 300hp in this marketplace now that all the V6 competition is 300+hp. I only hope the new S-Type is as beatiful as I imagine it could be.
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Julius 8:08AM (10/27/2006)
Yeah, I'm a fan. Definitely not a boring car, and the grill is certainly bolder than the previous S-Type. Not convinced on the rear of the car (although I like it on the XK), but was I hoping the entire car would sweep back more than it does. Overall, lets see how this helps Jaguar's chances in the future.
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menice 8:25AM (10/27/2006)
wait, the two top pics in the link are photos or artist interps?
right above the pic with the camouflage it says:
"The photos show S-Type prototypes, while two additional computer renderings give an artist's impression of how the new model could look like upon its release.-Hans G. Lehmann/Hidden Image "
so those two cool pics (not a fan of silver, they look better black) might not be what it looks like right?
Car looks great, hope it actually looks like that.
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steven 9:26AM (10/27/2006)
Looks like a Buick.
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DJ 9:26AM (10/27/2006)
I am getting really sick and tired of The Car Connection and others posting COMPUTER GENERATED ARTIST'S RENDERINGS and calling them photos! As mentioned in a previous post, these RENDERINGS have been around for months and so have the actual mule photographs. Until someone actually snaps a PHOTOGRAPH of a REAL car, stop wasting our time with someone's IMAGINATION!
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Mr_Oak 9:52AM (10/27/2006)
Take Jag's signature grille away, and you have an older Pontiac Grand Prix. Come on now.
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Michael Karesh 10:00AM (10/27/2006)
I agree that these should not be called photos. On a more serious note, largely carryover engines aren't going to cut it. The market is moving to having a V6 in the 300 horse range, a V8 in the 380 horse range, and a specialty V8/V10 in the 500 horse range. If Jag comes up seriously short, they'll continue to sell poorly.
I'm personally shocked by how poorly the current line is selling: just 16,500 for the first nine months of this year. BMW sells nearly this many of just the 7er.
All of this said, I did enjoy driving the S-Type R a few years back, though even then it was well behind the leading edge in many areas. My review:
http://www.epinions.com/content_77671075460
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shawn 10:01AM (10/27/2006)
We already had these discussions
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/09/spy-shots-2008-jaguar-s-type/
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/2008-jaguar-s-type-can-this-car-save-ford-s-feline/
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TalD 1:38PM (10/27/2006)
There appears to be substantial loss of the distiguished Jaguar "look" that has been evolving and carried on since the ? mid 1950s.
I guess Jaguar (Ford) will follow suit with many American car makers and transform the Jag identity into a nothingness of an undistinguished run of the mill computerized designed vehicle.
I will only use BMW as an example.There are others as well.
Seems BMW, for one, has a pretty descent formula.It appears BMW maintains a similance of design flavor from year to year that dates back from decades ago and you can tell it is BMW without seeing any logo. As each model year is introduced so are new inovations and improvements that seems to keep them at the front of the humongous pack of automobiles. Somewhat simple and basic but it works.
So, why does Jaguar want to veer from its traditional look? Why do they not concentrate on improving the quality and reliability of their fleet?
Looking different will not make it a better ride.
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Mike G 11:59AM (10/27/2006)
For three times the price and ten times the pretension, you too can have the bastard love child of a Buick Lacrosse and Mazda 3...
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Tool 12:07PM (10/27/2006)
On the first shot at TCC, the vehicle looks like a Pontiac.
On the second shot (or illustration), I like how they have grafted the XK rear on, but I wonder how that will look when it is actually executed.
Since the S-type is where Jaguar should be getting volume, this baby has got to be a hit. I'm hoping for it for their sake.
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Gregg W. 3:11PM (10/27/2006)
>>Take Jag's signature grille away, and you have an older Pontiac Grand Prix. Come on now.
Agree. Or even closer to the family tree, it looks a lot like a Taurus. A least it doesn't look like a Ford 500. Ack.
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akatsuki 7:24PM (10/28/2006)
I think it could be nice, it just needs some minor tweaking and fricking Jaguar hood ornament. The grill is a bit too set forward and looks tacked on instead of integral. Recessing it slightly and having it not follow the curves of the car so closely would help. The surround for the grill also looks cheap and somewhat crappy. A finer mesh would make it look a bit classier. Basically just rip off Audi just a bit more.
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SJWB 6:52AM (11/01/2006)
Sorry guys, this is complete bunk. The car will NOT look at all like the rendering. Regarding the shot at the bottom of the page, it is an S Type Mule with updated running gear.
Wait and see, you will be knocked out by the real thing.
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Auto Parts Wholesalers Online 12:30AM (11/03/2006)
Exciting Jag as usual. The S-Type was pretty well accepted by the public and it has brought influx of sales never before seen by Jaguar. This has somewhat saved Jaguar from being extinct.
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