The Jaguar S-TYPE, which goes on sale in the spring of 1999 as a 2000 model, delivers the benefits of leading-edge technology with a broad array of customer conveniences, ride-and-handling systems and safety considerations.

The new features range from significant industry breakthroughs to smaller, thoughtful enhancements, some provided as standard fitment and others included in optional-equipment packages:

Voice Activated Control: The S-TYPE's Voice Activated Control system, the first of its kind in the auto industry, enables operation of the primary climate control functions, the audio system and the telephone by voice commands. Using continuous speech instructions, independent of the speaker, the driver can select interior temperature, tune a radio station or dial a telephone number. The driver operates the system using a button on the left side of the steering wheel. A microphone on the steering column picks up the voice commands.

The system responds to English commands spoken in a wide variety of regional accents; it also allows the driver to program specific commands for recognition. Voice activation lets the driver operate often-used features, such as the climate control and audio systems, with hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, enhancing both safety and convenience. Voice Activated Control is included in the Communication Package option (not available in Mexico) along with a portable cellular phone.

Dynamic Stability Control: Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is sophisticated technology that enhances driver confidence and control. The DSC system analyzes information from on-board sensors to determine when the car's path of travel deviates from the direction chosen by the driver. It then actively intervenes as necessary to alleviate an oversteer condition. DSC can apply brake force individually at any one of the four wheels, adding cornering skid prevention to the stability improvements provided by the anti-lock brake system (ABS) under braking and traction control under acceleration.

DSC uses dedicated sensing devices to determine the vehicle's actual direction of travel. It shares actuating hardware with the ABS and traction control systems. The yaw rate sensor and lateral accelerometer, located near the center of the car on a bracket behind the handbrake lever, detect side slip. A steering rate sensor, located on the steering column, provides the data to calculate steering angle, or the driver's intended direction of travel. Input from the ABS wheel speed sensors furnishes a measure of the difference in rotational speed between the left and right wheels. By comparing this information (together with the vehicle speed input) against algorithms in the system's software, the DSC module is able to detect oversteer (rear wheels losing traction). The driver can cancel operation of DSC and traction control with an override switch on the center console. Dynamic Stability Control is part of the Weather Package option in the United States; the package is standard in Canada and Mexico.

Chest and head side-impact air bags: In addition to passive safety technologies installed on all Jaguars, such as dual air bags and electronically fired pyrotechnic front safety-belt pretensioners, the

S-TYPE is equipped with a new generation of side-impact air bags. Their relatively large volume

(19 liters, compared with 10 liters in other Jaguars) offers an added measure of injury protection for the head in a high-energy side-impact collision.

Jaguar Navigation System: A fully integrated, in-dash GPS satellite navigation system, the first for Jaguar, is available either as a stand-alone option or as part of the S-TYPE Deluxe Communication Package (not available in Canada and Mexico). The navigation capability can be combined with

Jaguar Assist, an emergency messaging system that can provide automated response in the event of an air bag deployment.

The system determines vehicle position based on signals from three or more of the Global Positioning Satellites in the network of 24 maintained by the U.S. military. Data to indicate vehicle motion are drawn from the wheel-speed sensors of the anti-lock braking system, and direction of travel is derived from the gyroscope within the system's electronic control unit. Digitized maps are stored on CD-ROM along with a directory of landmarks and points of interest, including hotels, gas stations, restaurants and Jaguar dealerships. Using these information sources and map-matching algorithms, the system can relate the vehicle position to the digitized map, provide voice and visual route guidance and calculate alternative routes C even rerouting if the driver makes a wrong turn.

Jaguar Assist: Jaguar Assist combines the satellite positioning capability of Jaguar Navigation System with cellular telephone technology to provide a comprehensive emergency messaging system. The system automatically contacts the dedicated Jaguar messaging center in the event of an air bag deployment. For less urgent situations, the ASSIST button on the navigation display panel gives the driver a voice link for assistance (optional in the Deluxe Communication Package).

The system's sensors detect dynamic forces acting on the vehicle and select the appropriate "firm" or "soft" suspension damper setting. Three accelerometers C one front vertical, one rear vertical and one lateral C gather input and process it in a dedicated CATS module located in the spare tire well. This information, along with vehicle speed, is compared with a set of tuned parameters in the CATS algorithm to determine the correct damper setting. All four dampers are switched simultaneously.

Reverse Park Control: When equipped with the Reverse Park Control system (optional in U.S. and Mexico, not available in Canada), the rear bumper is fitted with four sensors for obstacle detection. These provide an audible warning to the driver of the distance to an obstacle behind the vehicle. When reverse gear is selected, the system emits an intermittent beep through a speaker mounted on the rear parcel shelf. As the vehicle moves closer to the obstacle, the beep rate increases until, at eight inches, it becomes a continuous tone.

Rain-sensitive windshield wipers: The S-TYPE's optional moisture-sensing wiper system (standard in Canada and Mexico on the V8) automatically activates and adjusts the frequency of wiper operation in response to rainfall detected on the windshield. A combined sensor and control module is located on the windshield, behind the inside rear-view mirror.

The system uses light-emitting diodes and sensors to detect raindrops by measuring changes in the bending of light as it passes through the drops. Using this information, the module calculates the frequency of wipes required and relays this message to the wiper system.

Heated wiper park: The climate control panel incorporates a switch for the standard heated wiper park function (U.S. and Mexico only). A heater element is located in the windshield directly beneath the wiper park position. Both the heated wiper park system and the heated rear screen automatically switch on at an ambient temperature of 36° F (2° C) or below. (The heated windshield is standard in Canada.)

Dual-zone automatic climate control system: With the S-TYPE's dual-zone climate control system, driver and passenger can individually control their environments. A residual heating feature is fitted on the V8 version of the S-TYPE.

In this system, a supplemental water pump in the heater circuit provides cabin heat at low ambient temperatures, after the engine is switched off. This "rest" function of the climate control system continues to operate for up to 20 minutes, utilizing residual engine heat for added comfort. The availability of cabin heat without the engine running also minimizes cold-weather idling, an environmental benefit.

The climate control system's standard particle filter system filters out 90 percent of pollen particles greater than three microns from the cabin, a particular benefit to allergy sufferers. The filter's polypropylene fibers are highly efficient, using electrostatic and mechanical filtration. The filter is replaced at each 10,000-mile vehicle service.

Glove-box-mounted CD changer: Packaging efficiencies realized in developing the new

S-TYPE platform enable the available six-disc CD autochanger (standard in Canada and on the V8 in Mexico) to be mounted within the passenger compartment, in the glove box, for much greater convenience.