In 1963, British automaker Jaguar announced that it would produce a sedan to market above the space currently occupied by the previously popular Mark II. The following year, the company delivered the first Jaguar S-Type fitted with Jaguar XK engines. Although originally intended to replace the Mark II in Jaguar’s lineup, strong sales of the Mark II forced the company to move the S-Type to another segment. In 1968, just four years after it first appeared on the market, the Jaguar S-Type was discontinued as the larger Jaguar XJ6 replaced it in Jaguar’s lineup. After a long hiatus, the Type S was revived for the 2000 model year by Ford Motor Company, which currently owns the British marque.
The revived S-Type initially shared its platform with the now defunct Lincoln LS. The S-Type range is extended in 2003 with the supercharged S-Type R. The R version of the Jaguar S-type is considered to be the most powerful S-Type in production. The R-badged mid-size luxury car is equipped with a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine unit.
This V8 engine is capable of producing up to 390 horsepower. The company claims this power is enough to propel the S-Type R to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in just 5.3 seconds, or 5.6 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour. Some of its most notable features compared to the conventional S-Type are the presence of 18-inch alloy wheels and the wire mesh grille. The “R” badge is also visible on the trunk lid and on the car’s two front wings.
Apart from its good looks and powerful engine, the Jaguar S-Type R is also equipped with advanced features such as dynamic stability control. This feature is also called electronic stability control and is used to improve a vehicle’s handling capabilities. This feature reduces the risk of a person losing control of a vehicle by automatically adjusting the car to the demands of the road. The system basically evaluates the driver’s input to the vehicle’s reaction. If the system detects that too much power is flowing to one wheel or set of wheels, it applies the brakes for that particular wheel or wheels to maintain vehicle balance. In addition to this feature, the Jaguar S-Type R is also equipped with an active suspension system that controls the performance and reaction of different suspension components such as Jaguar struts, shock absorbers and the like.
The supercharged R variant of the Jaguar S-Type is also equipped with an adaptive cruise control system. This feature uses laser or radar technology to maintain a preset distance between the vehicle and the vehicle in front of it. This technology automatically activates once a preset speed is reached. When the system detects an imminent collision with another vehicle or any type of object in front of it, the system activates the brakes. This feature is already being used by high end vehicles and the popularity of this feature has led to the development of cost effective laser based adaptive cruise control systems. The security that this feature offers consumers is complemented by the luxurious interior that the S-Type R possesses.
Plush leather seats are standard features on the S-Type R, along with a wooden gear knob and rear sunshade. The seats are all adjustable. The driver’s seat is adjustable in 16 positions and the passenger’s seat in 12 positions. These seats complement the S-Type R’s adequate interior space. Both the front and rear seats provide ample head and leg room.
The Jaguar S-Type may once again be heading to the shelves as Jaguar announced that they will be replacing it with a new model to be known as the Jaguar XF. The production XF concept model was unveiled earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), where the XF immediately attracted the attention of many sports car enthusiasts. Whether the XF will lead Jaguar to profitability is a question that will be answered in the near future. Jaguar’s parent Ford is currently losing money as the British marque continues its decline. Despite Jaguar’s poor performance in the market, Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally has said they will not sell the Jaguar brand. This means that Ford will continue to be involved in the development and production of the next Jaguar XF.