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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2006 Jaguar S-Type VDP by Cordell Koland The media has recounted the Ford Motor Company's various travails in great detail. As much as the company needs to revive its North American operation, there's strong evidence that its luxury European brands need help as well. This predicament is best illustrated by a look at Jaguar, which has seen U.S. sales slip by 33.7 percent in 2005, despite the company¹s renewed efforts to the contrary. This slump is a hard one to decipher. Jaguar¹s products are competitively priced and clearly differentiated in their market with strong personalities that emphasize style and luxury, as is evidenced by our test vehicle, the S-Type VDP Edition. Yes, there seems to be some lingering consumer concerns about product quality. But if one had questions about reliability and dealership support, the company scored a number one position in the 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Sales Satisfaction Index Study for the second consecutive year. In 2004 Jaguar tied for first place, but in the latest survey it now owns first place uncontested. In another report, Jaguar rose from third in 2004 to rank second in J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Initial Quality Study, a 10 percent improvement over the previous year's results, and maintained its position as the highest-ranking European manufacturer. The S-Type is in the middle of the Jaguar lineup and is its entry in the premium mid-sized sports sedan category. It lines up against the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class. Additionally, the vastly improved, new-for-2006 Infiniti M sedan and Lexus GS series also demand serious attention. The S-Type flagship VDP Edition highlights Jaguar's affinity for luxury appointments. The sedan offers extensive use of rich, burl walnut veneers (including a half-walnut, half-leather wrapped steering wheel), up-graded soft-grain leather seating surfaces with contrast-colored piping on light-colored interiors, premium floor mats and heated front seats. There's also a special 16-way power driver¹s seat and a 12-way power front passenger seat. The car's exterior is enhanced with special 17-inch cast alloy wheels. The S-Type's styling is the most unique in its class with sensual lines that blend classic touches from Jaguar's heritage with contemporary design parameters. The S-Type bears the classic Jaguar signature use of four round headlights sensually tapered longitudinally into the front end and hood. The S-Type's interior also stands out. The emphasis is wood and leather laid out to look like natural materials in earth tones. This is one mid-size luxury car that did not borrow its design motif form an airplane cockpit or high-tech concepts of rows or black switches against a dark background. On the other hand, the S-Type's array of controls does not necessarily score a high mark in ease of use, but it looks warm and inviting. With its 300-horsepower V-8 engine, the S-Type VDP Edition can play in any crowd. Jaguar claims that zero to 60 mph acceleration in 6.2 seconds, which is more than enough performance for the typical luxury car buyer. But if you want more, there's the S-Type R with a 400-horsepower engine and a performance-tuned suspension. The ride and handling of the S-Type present the classic Jaguar ideal of balance. The ride is firm, but not overly harsh, while the handling delivers a satisfying level of feedback and responsiveness on a wide range of road conditions. For 2006, Jaguar has given the S-Type a new Conti-Teves braking system designed to provide greater stopping power, shorter braking distances and improved brake pedal feel. So why is Jaguar sinking in the sales arena against it's European rivals? Here's a theory, though a bit far out. Let¹s posit that we are entering a new cultural era that might be called neo-Puritanism. Such an intellectual and emotional milieu, if it exists, would be dominated by concerns of practicality, security and self-discipline. This well might work against Jaguar¹s essential character, which has been dominated by aesthetics, sensuality, unabashed luxury, and more than a whiff of self-indulgence. The bottom line here is that Jags are sexy and outside of the realm of teen pop queens, such as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, sexy doesn't play well in the contemporary era. <>Vehicle: Jaguar S-Type VDP Edition
<> <> <>Price as tested: $59,245 <>Engine: <> Type: 4.2-liter V-8 <> Horsepower: 300 @ 6,000 rpm <> Torque: 303 lbs.-ft. @ 4,100 rpm <>Fuel economy, automatic transmission <> City 18 mpg <> Highway 24 mpg <>Curb Weight: 3,826 lbs. <> Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
