Jaguar offers three
S-Type models for 2008, distinguished primarily by their engines. Each comes with rich leather upholstery and all the other features associated with a premium luxury car. All come with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The S-Type 3.0 ($48,335) is powered by a 235-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. Standard equipment also includes automatic dual-zone climate control; one-touch tilt-and-slide power glass sunroof; 140-watt AM/FM/CD stereo; burl walnut interior trim; leather seats with contrasting piping; heated front seats with multiple power adjustments for the driver and passenger; power adjustable wood-and-leather steering wheel; power-adjustable pedals; memory system for seat, pedals, outside mirrors and steering column; split folding rear seat; power windows; remote central locking; electrochromic mirrors inside and out; rain-sensing windshield wipers; Reverse Park Control; programmable garage-door opener; and, new for 2008, 18-inch alloy wheels. Nineteen-inch wheels are optional ($1200).
The S-Type 4.2 ($55,835) comes with a powerful, 300-horsepower 4.2-liter V8, plus a 320-watt Alpine premium stereo with six-CD changer; DVD-based satellite navigation; Bluetooth connectivity; xenon headlamps with automatic leveling; Front Park Control; additional seat adjustability; burl walnut gear selector knob; electric rear sunblind; and foot well rugs embroidered with the Jaguar logo. Standard wheels are still 18-inch but are of a different design, and 19-inch rims are again optional.
The high-performance S-Type R ($64,335) gets a 400-horsepower supercharged version of the same 4.2-liter V8 and most (but not all) of the standard 4.2's amenities. Chassis upgrades include Jaguar's enhanced Computer Active Suspension (eCATS), bigger brake discs up front, and new 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside are performance-style seats, a ski hatch in the rear seat, and new Satin Mahogany woodwork replacing last year's gray-stained bird's-eye maple. The shift knob is leather-covered and there's no wood on the steering wheel. Stainless exhaust tips, a trunk lid spoiler, and the deletion of some exterior brightwork alert the outside world to your intentions.
A Luxury Package ($3,000), exclusively for the R-model, adds Adaptive Cruise Control and reverts to a more traditional walnut-burl interior theme. It also adds soft-grain leather with contrasting piping, and includes an electric rear sunblind and premium foot well rugs; and restores bright exterior trim to the bumper blades, grille surround, mirror caps, and side window frames.
Optional across the range is Sirius Satellite Radio ($450). 3.0-liter models can be upgraded with a Navigation/Bluetooth Package ($2,800), auto-leveling xenon headlamps ($675), and Front Park Control ($250). Adaptive Cruise Control is offered as a stand-alone ($2,200) on the R. Special-order paint and trim ($1,000) are available for any S-Type.
The final run of 750 3.0 and 4.2 models will be Satin Editions, with matt-finish Satin Mahogany veneers in the dash and doors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a chrome-and-leather shift knob. Five exterior colors will be offered (Ebony, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Radiance, and Porcelain) with a choice of Champagne/Mocha or Charcoal/Charcoal interior trim.
For safety, all S-Types come with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control; Emergency Brake Assist (EBA); frontal, seat-mounted side-impact, and side-curtain airbags; and Jaguar's Adaptive Restraint Technology System (ARTS) which uses ultrasound (in addition to the usual sensors) to collect data on the size and position of front-seat occupants before deploying the airbags with appropriate force. next page