Jaguar S-Type

It also adds mechanical enhancements to the bodyshell, suspension and drivetrain improvements introduced in 2002.
The bonnet is now aluminium rather than steel for improved weight distribution and better handling balance.
The new body has tighter panel fits and revised aerodynamics for enhanced performance.
The range of petrol engines and transmissions is unchanged, but will be extended by an all-new 2.7-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel in the middle of this year.

 The petrol engines are the 201bhp 2.5-litre and 240bhp 3.0-litre V6s, and naturally aspirated (300bhp) and supercharged 400bhp 4.2-litre V8s.

Both 4.2s run a six-speed ZF automatic transmission as standard.
The V6s are available with either the six-speed automatic or five-speed Getrag manual gearbox.
S-Type performance ranges from the 2.5-litre V6’s 228km/h top speed and 0-96km/h time of 8.2 seconds to the 4.2-litre supercharged V8’s 250km/h and 5.3 seconds.

The all-new front and extensively revised rear suspensions introduced in 2002 have been further refined.
The new car gets low friction balljoints and re-tuned dampers for better ride and dynamics.
Sports suspension with uprated springs and dampers, and 18-inch alloy wheels are now available as options on all S-Types.
The R runs Jaguar’s Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS), with electronically adjustable dampers as standard. It’s optional on other models.

 Focusing on the grille

Jaguar design boss Ian Callum says the S-Type’s styling has a clear focal point – the grille and twin headlights.
“But to make it work, everything around that focus has to be as simple as possible, and the extensive changes for 2004 are designed to achieve precisely that,” he says.

The bonnet now has a more defined vee shape which emphasises the revised grille and gives the front of the car a crisper, more powerful look and stance.

The new grille has been totally re-proportioned. It’s subtly lower and broader, and sits more upright.
It’s now on the same plane as the twin headlights and looks simpler, more modern and more assertive.
It has a new, round Jaguar badge, and its vertical vanes are slimmer and neater.
The R model retains a mesh grille with body-coloured surround.
Callum says the car’s front is now stronger and more dominant.
The front bumper design is simpler and cleaner, and the bumper is visually deeper.
The standard bumper lets the grille stand out more strongly.
The R bumper has a larger central air vent. Side vents with mesh inserts – the vents replace the foglights found on other models – feed twin oil coolers.

The S-Type’s prominent sills have been reshaped to blend seamlessly into the side contours.
One fewer curve and one fewer deep horizontal line below the doors return visual emphasis to the strong, sweeping styling line through the centre of the car.

 The new S-Type looks longer and leaner between the wheels, which balances the stronger proportions of the nose. At the rear, bumper side details are simpler.
The rear fender line, upper and lower rear bumper surfaces and the rear lip of the bootlid have been raised significantly and subtly reshaped to continue the sweeping sideline right through the profile.
Callum says that lifts the original S-Type’s drooping curves, and the new car “lifts its shoulders and rises up from its haunches, giving a far more powerful, forward-pushing stance…”

The round taillights get a more technical look and blend smoothly into the tail’s new curves.
More complex shapes behind their clear lenses give a jewel-like appearance.
A signature blade – chromed or body colour depending on model – runs the full width of the boot.
The new lines improve aerodynamics and enhance performance, helped particularly by the revised upper surface of the bootlid, which reduces lift.

The R has its own distinctive signature at the rear. A discreet but effective bootlip spoiler adds aerodynamic stability at maximum speeds.
Sport models now have 18-inch rather than 17-inch wheels as standard.
SEs move from 16-inch to 17-inch.