2008 S-Type

Until JCB boss Sir Bamford decides whether the future and fate of Jaguar will again be in British hands, the bosses at FoMoCo are attempting to once again re-invent the luxury car brand by injecting some new and youthful design cues into the struggling automaker's models. For Jaguar to succeed in the future it will need some contemporary new styling, especially for the bread and butter sedans — the S-Type and XJ.

As reported by Automotive News, the two cars will lose the retro styling which they currently adorn in favor of a new look intended to make Jaguars much more desirable — and profitable. The new look, which incorporates a new grille desing is said to evoke the sports car pedigree of the brand and be reminiscent of the 1960s E-Type.

Project X250 (pictured above) will be the 2008 S-Type, an all new design (just under 16.5 feet long), powered by a range of V6 and V8 engines driving the rear wheels through an automatic gearbox. The S-Type is rumored to be built from a steel monocoque, unlike its larger sibling who is clothed in aluminum, though the hood and trunk lid may be made from the lighter material.

The well-known Jaguar face will also evolve, though the grille opening will harp back to the late 60's and feature two openings rather than just one. Jaguar designers will switch to one-piece headlights (a la new XK) but will enclose twin projector beams, giving the impression of a traditional twin-headlight Jaguar front end.

Other sporting and modern styling features will be a gently rising beltline creating a wedge, a subtle bulge over the rear haunch and a narrow greenhouse. Think of the Mercedes CLS with a slightly more cramped rear seat quarters and a higher trunk lid.

The S-Type will also be fitted with two new engines, including the company’s first 5.0-liter V8, producing about 350bhp. A supercharged R version is rumored to produce close to 460bhp. Current V6 gasoline powerplants will be available at launch, but will ultimately be replaced by a Jaguar version of the new Volvo inline-six. A turbocharged 3.2-liter in-line 6 is also under consideration as it gets better fuel economy than the V8s.