1999 JAGUAR S-Type 4.0L V8 5AT (248 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The British fans warmly welcomed the S-Type’s re-birth, and they saw it as a bright future for their beloved brand, which was under Ford’s management.

After a long period of financial troubles, Jaguar was doing fine again under Ford’s management. It had some plans for the future, and the S-Type was only one part of the American carmaker plans to revive the British brand.

Jaguar introduced the original S-Type in 1963, and the design team carried over its lines on the new model. It was a retro-design done right. A heart-shaped grille completed its rounded lines and the design of the quad headlights. Jaguar built the new lineup to fill the gap below the XJ lineup, and the plans for launching a smaller sibling, the X-Type, were on the way.

Besides the exterior look, the S-Type was a luxurious sedan with a mix of leather and wood-trims interior. Unfortunately, some plastic panels and Ford buttons spoiled the car’s exquisite look. Its suspension was tuned for comfort and, thanks to its generous wheelbase, provided enough legroom for all passengers.

Technically, the S-Type was based on the same platform as the Lincoln LS, and that explained why it offered such a long wheelbase. Under the hood, Jaguar installed a choice of two gasoline engines and, for the European market, a 2.7-liter V-6 turbo-diesel engine developed in cooperation with Peugeot. Depending on the powerplant and market destination, the S-Type featured a manual or an automatic gearbox fitted as standard.