Autoblog

Our El Camino-happy friends over at Jalopnik have a new batch of spy shots showing what appears to be the upcoming replacement for Jaguar's S-Type in prototype form undergoing development tests in San Francisco.

The pre-production version of the car, previewed by the C-XF concept car at the Detroit show, is anticipated for unveiling in Frankfurt in September, in advance of expected delivery to begin next Spring.

If the concept car wasn't enough of an indication, the camouflaged test mule hints at what should be one sexy luxo-feline indeed. Click on to Jalopnik to see the full gallery of spy shots.

[Source: Jalopnik]

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Arlington, Va. has just concluded testing on some 75 vehicles' head restraint systems and after performing a simulated rear-end impact of 20 MPH, only 22 of the systems received the top score of "good."

At the head of the class was Audi's A4, S4 and A6, along with the Chevy Cobalt, Ford Five Hundred (Taurus, whatever) and its Mercury counterpart, Honda's Civic, Hyundai Sonata, Jag S-Type, Kia Optima, Merc E-class, Nissan Sentra and its lesser sibling the Versa, Subaru's Impreza, Legacy and Outback, as well as Volvo's S40, S60 and S80 (no surprise).

The flunkees included the Acura TSX, BMW 5-series, Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne, Caddy CTS, DTS and STS, Chevy's Aveo, the Honda Fit and Accord, Infiniti's M35, the Jaguar X-Type, Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Galant, Pontiac's Grand Prix, plus the Toyota Avalon and Corrolla.

Considering that the IIHS estimates that the injuries sustained to the back and neck in these types of collisions costs insurance companies around $8 mbillion dollars per year, their interest in the matter is obvious. Whether or not consumers will include this in their purchasing criteria is another matter however.

[Source: IIHS]

We're going to have to wait until pictures of the actual production XF drop, but in the meantime these renderings are likely not very shy of the mark. Motor Authority commisioned Schulte-Design to analyze the concept car, various spy shots of XF mules, and inside information from people familiar with the car, melding it all into a coherent stab at what we can expect on the street. The S-Type is so last millennium, so it will be nice to see its replacement wearing a modern design language.

That design language is pulled back a bit from the concept, but it still ends up looking great. If this is the new face of Jaguar, there's hope. Not that paying homage to 40 years ago is outright bad, but it's nice to see something new emerging. If the transition from concept to production is as gentle and dare we say refined as what we see in the renderings, we have a billet-sculpted, muscular Jag coming.

[Source: Motor Authority]

The last actual spy shots of Jaguar's replacement for the S-Type sedan we brought you way back in October. At the time, mules of the car were wearing the body of the current S-Type with a modified front clip that was obscured from view by a thick cover. These are the first spy shots we've seen of the XF, which the new sedan will be called, that show the actual production body style of the car. Note the high beltline and coupe-like profile of the roof. The front end is clearly inspired if not lifted directly from the C-XF concept that Jaguar debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month. The rear of the car also clearly shows those thin taillamps from the concept that span the width of the back. This mule is also wearing particularly large wheels, maybe 18- or 19-inchers sporting five wide spokes. Though the XF will largely carry over the underpinnings and engines of the current S-Type, the design is shaping up to be an eye-catching number that could, we stress could, turn around the fortunes of PAG's most beleagured brand.

[Source: BilNorge.no via CoolBrits.net]

We all know that Ford doesn't break down the earnings (or losses) of its Premier Automotive Group, which includes Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and Aston Martin. Nevertheless, the Detroit News has learned just how much of an anchor the Jaguar brand was on the group's bottom line last year. In 2006 the Jaguar brand lost $715 million. DTN also uncovered an internal memo to executives that projects the brand will lose $550 million in 2007 and another $300 million in 2008. Clearly a quick turnaround is not in the cards for Jaguar, an asset into which Ford has dumped billions and billions of dollars since its purchase back in 1989.

[Source: The Detroit News]

click above image to view high-resolution gallery of the Jaguar C-XF Concept

Jaguar is all about tradition, which is one reason why its now the black sheep of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, having never even come close to turning a profit while under Blue Oval ownership. Clearly it's time for a change, as sticking with tried and true traditions has gotten the marque nowhere lately. Just as the XF will be shedding any resemblance to the Jaguar's we've come to know, so to will its engine lineup deviate from the one-supercharger rule. In the past, only the high-performance 'R' version of the S-Type, which will become the XF, had a supercharged engine – a 4.2-liter V8 producing 420 hp. That engine will again be used in the XF, but not in the XF-R. Rather, that blown V8 will merely be the top engine in the standard lineup. Later on, around 2010, Autocar expects a new 'R' version with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that sports direct injection and will, in our estimation, produce at least 500 horsepower. Jaguar is serious about making the XF competitive, and the XF-R will require at least a half a grand of horsepower to compete with the BMW M5 and the rest of the German super sedans.



[Source: Autocar]

click above image to view 66 high-resolution image in our gallery

Jaguar has been pushing its product with the Gorgeous campaign for over a year now, but anyone who thinks that the current S-type can be properly described as such probably needs a new prescription for corrective lenses. To show that it's aware of the problem, the British automaker rolled out the C-XF concept into Cobo Arena last night as a hint towards what corrective action we can expect when the new XF replaces Jag's aging entry-level sedan.

The car's entire shape is drawn around the recessed metal-mesh grille, and perhaps this is the most production-ready aspect of the C-XF's styling. The striking silhouette follows the current design trend towards making four doors blend into a couple-like rooflines, and is augmented with short front and long rear overhangs (the latter of which tapers dramatically); unfortunately, that probably won't make it to the production XF. Inside, carbon fiber mixes with poplar - blackened with torches - and copious amounts of machined aluminum to provide a rather gorgeous interior experience. Especially noteworthy are the trio of B&W drivers in the rear parcel shelf, and a rotary shifter residing in place of a conventional lever.

Check out the gallery for 66 shots from the official introduction and the press release can be found after the jump.



For our comprehensive listing of everything from Detroit, click here.

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]

Last month we told you how important the upcoming S-Type replacement was for the future of Jaguar, if not for Ford itself. Although Jaguar is still officially not for sale, the success or failure of the next generation S-Type could determine whether there will even continue to be a Ford Premier Auto Group. And so, because of the importance of this new midsize Jag, we feel it crucial to pass along any news on what this new car might look like. And thanks to Brenda Priddy, we have some new ideas.

Caught testing near Jaguar's German engineering center, this newest mule appears to be undergoing evaluation for the new nose's cooling properties. As Priddy explains: "Examining the pictures gives clues to the look of the car, which is rumored to be Jaguar's long-awaited break with traditional styling. The new hood is cut away sharply over the headlights and the grille looks as if it will be cut further down into the front bumper. If these clues are anything to go by, the new S-Type, will have a much more aggressive look than today's oddly retro machine. We also understand that the car will be the first Jag to adopt a modern nose-down, tail-up stance."

Scheduled to debut in Frankfurt next year, the new S-Type will reach European dealers as a 2008 model and the U.S. as an '09.

[Source: Winding Road]

Who knows how many of its nine lives Jaguar has left to spare, but the next generation S-Type could help the down and out member of Ford's Premier Auto Group land back on its feet. AutoExpress has published new renderings based on inside info (i.e. a guy who actually saw the car at a dealer sneak preview) that give us the best look yet at what the S-Type will look when the current car is replaced. Codenamed X250, the new S-Type is a bold sedan with a shape that eschews the retro look of the current model. The center grille is inspired by recent Jaguar concepts like the RD6 and R-Coupe, while the current car's quad headlamps have been dropped in favor of multi-element single units. The S-Type's tail, meanwhile, seems to have been lifted straight from the XK coupe.

As has been reported ad nauseum, the new S-Type will not use aluminum in its construction to the extent that it's used on the XJ sedan and XK, but rather feature steel body panels predominantly with some aluminum ones like the hood thrown in to save weight. This also means Jaguar has chosen to underpin the car with an upgraded version of the current car's chassis. AutoExpress reports the interior, also, draws heavily on the design of the XK's cockpit.

The new S-Type will continue to use the current car's engine lineup and the range-topping S-Type R will get the XKR's 420-bhp supercharged V8. A six-speed automatic will be standard across the entire model range, and we're also hoping it's the one we experienced in the XK.

Will the new S-Type be able to mark a larger territory for itself than the current model? We won't know for some time, but as we said after our brief drive in Jaguar's new XK, if the brand can produce more cars like its svelte new coupe, then there's hope after all.

[Source: AutoExpress]