Advertisement

Purr for the course

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0

IN RECENT YEARS, German marques have stuffed even more horsepower into their mid-size saloons. The Mercedes-Benz E55 has led the way, with 469 supercharged horsepower, closely followed by twin-turbos pumping out 450bhp in the Audi RS6. The BMW M5 keeps up, too, with its 4.9 naturally aspirated litres churning out 400bhp, coupled to a fine six-speed manual gearbox.

Jaguar rises to the challenge with its R-series engine: a 4.2-litre V8 with an Eaton supercharger bolted to it for a meaty 400 horsepower. It generates 400lb per foot of torque, with the bulk of it available from idle, as in the XKR coupe and XJR saloon. The S-type first stepped into the ring as Jaguar's contender in the mid-size sector in the late 1990s, with a three-litre or a four-litre wrapped in a captivatingly sensuous body.

Master designer Ian Callum recently touched-up the S-type and breathed new life into its classic silhouette. It retains the distinctive Jaguar coachwork, with its short boot and majestic bonnet line ready to pounce. The short front overhang strengthens a sense of agility and alertness. Subtle spoilers at each end offer aerodynamic stability at high speeds, while the 18-inch Vulcan alloys are filled to the brim by the huge race-developed Brembo brakes, inscribed 'S-type R'. Beyond the subtle 'R' badge to the right of the rear licence plate, there's nothing to differentiate this beast from its siblings.

I'm enjoying the driver's seat. The central console is filled with buttons, bound to keep the front passengers pleasantly occupied in the gridlock. The Alpine Sound system drowns out the rather noisy air conditioning, but the sound quality seems inferior in this sector. The sporty, thick-rimmed steering wheel incorporates all the buttons for volume control, track selection and muting, with everything in easy reach. The driving instrumentation is simple, clear and encircled in aluminium rings. At night, the dials glow a classy, eye-friendly lime-green. The indicator and wiper stalks are well-positioned, just above nine and three o'clock, and the trip computer displays ample information at your fingertips.

The aluminium finish on the interior panels is handsome, but let down by a plastic feel. Even more annoying are the over-sensitive parking sensors that beep constantly - without telling you where the obstacle is. Lo-tech drivers such as I, who insist on using mirrors ,will probably switch this function off. But these are small niggles. All-round visibility from the cabin is superb. The slim pillars offer near-panoramic vision, while the Xenon headlamps flood the road.

The leather (two-tone optional) seats are luxurious, with their softness and warmth continuing all around in the fully lined cabin. The steering wheel, seats and mirrors are all electrically operated and are easily adjusted.

Advertisement