Jaguar Cans Aluminum S-Type

[BMWDave]

Jaguar Cans Aluminum S-Type in Favor of Cheaper Design
Date Posted 08-15-2005

COVENTRY, England ? Jaguar has abandoned its plan to build an all-aluminum S-Type replacement in favor of a more conventional design.

Jaguar had planned to build the next S-Type using the same riveted aluminum technology as used on the luxury XJ model and the forthcoming XK coupe. Such a car would have helped to justify the company's major investment in building aluminum-chassis cars.

But the process is costly, and Ford is trying to restructure Jaguar as a "Porsche" rather than a "BMW," geared up to produce 100,000 cars a year rather than 200,000. The new S-Type is due to be launched in late 2007, and Jaguar has decided to reengineer the current S-Type platform rather than adapt the XJ.

The new S-Type will have aluminum body panels on a steel floor pan, and feature fashionable "four-door coupe" styling based on the R-D6 concept from 2003. This will turn the car into a competitor for Mercedes-Benz's successful CLS model.

Jaguar's restructuring plan also involves replacing the X-Type sedan with a "crossover" wagon in 2008, and possibly a smaller sports car ? a spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type.

What this means to you: Concept and reality meet again.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Jaguar has some pretty good designs, and I hope this will represent Jaguar in a good way. I like Jaguar, and they need to re-establish their image before turning into an Old Man's car.