For 2005, Jaguar designers freshened the lower front fascia of the S-Type and refocused the cat's tail by subtly squaring-off

Jag styling evolves very slowly. Do anything too dramatic in restyling a classic cat and you can expect to hear from the legions of its loyal devotees. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

its tapering trunk and rear-quarter-panels. As Malcolm the Jaguar rep pointed out, Jag styling evolves very slowly. Do anything too dramatic in restyling a classic cat and you can expect to hear from the legions of its loyal devotees. Therefore, a keen eye is needed to spot the re-shaping for '05, which gives it a stronger presence from the rear. Fortunately these alterations have not weakened the visual tie-in to the Mark II, which can be seen most dramatically in the grille and headlight arrangement of the current model. Jaguar keeners will no doubt spot the spirit of the Mark II in the rear windscreen of the S-Type as well.

Jaguar heritage is equally evident inside the S-Type. Settling into a Jag has always been a visceral experience denoted by the smell and feel of stitched leather upholstery and genuine wood trim, both of which are abundant in the opulent cabin of the S-Type. The Champagne and Ivory colour scheme in my tester was beautifully matched to the bronze Madrona wood veneer gracing the dashboard, doors and centre console. During

Settling into a Jag has always been a visceral experience denoted by the smell and feel of stitched leather upholstery and genuine wood trim. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

assembly, each piece of veneer is hand matched to ensure colour and grain consistency car-to-car, resulting in the exclusive claim that no two Jags will display identical wood grains.

The interior fit-and-finish in my tester was consistent with premium-car standards and the non-organic materials used were first-rate. Ergonomically, this cat is well-adjusted and free of the peculiarities sometimes associated with cars from the UK. The heated, leather- covered front buckets provided fatigue-free support. Obtaining the perfect driving position was easily accomplished using a multi-function control to set the pedal distance plus steering wheel height and distance.