What Happened to the Jaguar S-Type?
The epitome of luxury and rich British history, Jaguars are one-of-a-kind. Or are they? Is this what ultimately led to the demise of the coveted Jaguar S-Type?
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
We’re used to seeing these iconic British cars circling the
luxury vehicle
scene. Throughout its history
, Jaguar has mixed sophistication and elegance effortlessly.With just a nine-year run, why did the carmaker scrap the showstopping Jaguar S-Type?
Refined, but not modern enough
In the 2000 model year, Jaguar released a stylish and unique mid-level S-Type sedan. The V6 engine was relatively smooth, but the V8 is where this Jaguar really shined.
The sedan featured a circular grille and roomy leather seats. In 2001, the S-Type offered ample paint color choices and alloy wheels. Models didn’t change too much during its run, but the 2002 version introduced a 3.0-liter supercharged V8 engine with a hefty 400 hp.
In 2004, adaptive cruise control was integrated, and choosing a six-speed automatic transmission was also an option. Later models went on to feature heated seats, Bluetooth, and radar cruise control.
The Jaguar S-Type was replaced by the Jaguar XF. However, the originality of the XF’s new features was questionable. According to HotCars, “The XF’s grille, headlights, arched hood, and sleek finish are similar to the sedans that Volvo produces.”
This wasn’t the first time Jaguar fans were suspicious of the manufacturer. Because the S-Type had the same 3.0-liter V6 engine as the Ford Taurus, many believed it was a more exuberant version of the car. Let's just say Jaguar and Ford are not the best of friends.
When Ford obtained Jaguar in 1989, the goal was to sell about 200,000 Jaguars a year. The numbers were disappointing, mostly due to Ford’s poor marketing campaign.
According to
Autotrader
, “The midsize S-Type was the automaker’s long-awaited answer to the BMW 5-Series and Lexus GS, among others, and it never came close to unseating largely German and Japanese rivals.” Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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Outdated and unwilling to innovate
MORE: Waymo Is Testing the Jaguar I-Pace With San Francisco Residents
The design was classic, striking, and appealed to an older crowd. Jaguar stuck to their guns by refusing to upgrade exterior features like Lexus or Mercedes-Benz. The car’s iconic circular grille and headlights stayed the same.
The early 2000s also marked
Tesla
’s historic electric car initiative, with other companies following suit with their own eco-friendly cars. With less fuel efficiency and subpar handling, the Jaguar S-Type was on the road to decline.Even today, the British automaker struggles to meet current market demands. According to HotCars, Forbes said that Jaguar Land Rover “revealed that they had lost $525 million [in] 2020.”
Maybe the company’s new battery part initiative with BMW will help boost sales.
Can you find a Jaguar S-Type today?
The Jaguar S-Type is holding up better than we’d expect for an unreliable reputation.
Autotrader
located a Seafrost 2002 V6 in Selah, Washington, with only 150,000 miles for $5,500.While it may be difficult to find another model in this color, there are plenty of used S-Types on the market for die-hard fans. Autotrader also notes that “low-mile S-Types aren’t hard to find either, [like] a pristine first-year model with just 13,000 miles in Mesa, Arizona.”
Though not the most practical, the Jaguar S-Type dominated British car culture and is an important part of the nation’s history. Owners are true fans of the aesthetic and want a piece of European sophistication. even if Jaguar failed to evolve with the times.
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