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There was a time, not too long ago, that buying a Jaguar was like purchasing a lottery ticket because the odds of coming out a winner were not in your favor.

A very distinctive car with gobs of personality, but quality, reliability and dependability were suspect. And suspect is probably a kind word.

But that was Jaguar B.C., or Before Cash. Now it’s Jaguar A.D., or Ample Dough, since the British icon was acquired by American icon Ford Motor Co.

Jaguar hit the jackpot when Ford bought it in 1989. Suddenly, it had the funds and the technological expertise to play with the big boys. Jaguar no longer was a car to admire from afar.

The 2000 Jaguar S-Type is an offspring from the marriage to Ford. And it will have siblings, the 2000 Lincoln LS, the 2001 Ford Thunderbird and the 2002 or ’03 Ford Mustang–all built off the same platform.

There’s even talk of a Jaguar developed roadster–the XK 180 concept–in 2003 at the earliest built off a modified S-Type platform with V-6 or V-8 engines. There had been talk of a Jaguar sport-utility vehicle, but Ford’s latest acquisition, Volvo, reportedly is developing one so Jaguar won’t.

While the LS has been dubbed the “baby,” or entry-level, Lincoln, the folks from Jaguar discourage such labels for its version of the sedan since an entry-level Jaguar is still to come. Code named the X400, the BMW 3-Series-size compact is set to arrive in 2001.

Ford has been toying with its own version of the X400, but a decision to bring out a car smaller than the LS is pending. Plans, some say, aren’t as firm as they were.

The rear-wheel-drive S-Type joins the XK-8 coupe and convertible and XJ sedans. The S-Type is an attractive vehicle with a silhouette similar to the Mercedes 2000 S-Class sedan (Cartalk, May 16).

The vertical bar grille easily sets it off as a Jaguar even if the grille is considerably larger and more laid back than usual. The round headlamps that flank the “bonnet leaper” (hood ornament) add a nice touch.

S-Type lines show best in light colors, however. Darker ones–maroon or green– appear to add a pound or two in all the wrong places.

The S-Type has a split personality depending on the 3-liter, 240-horsepower V-6 or 4-liter, 281-h.p. V-8 engine and options.

Both V-6 and V-8 are smooth and quiet, though the V-6 won’t propel you from a standing start as quickly as the V-8 and feels a tad heavier in the wheel. Both come with a 5-speed automatic.

You choose the character of your S-Type based on how you equip it. Have checkbook handy.

The V-8 comes with power sunroof, rearview mirror with compass, programmable garage-door opener, memory mirrors/seats/steering-wheel settings and power driver/passenger lumbar seats. That’s a $1,900 package in the V-6.

A weather package with heated front seats; rain-sensing wipers; dynamic stability control, a form of traction control with anti-lock brakes and engine controls is a $1,200 option with either engine.

A sport package w ith computer active technology suspension (CATS) and 17-inch wheels and tires (16-inch standard in both cars) is an $1,100 option on either.

A communications package with portable cellular phone, voice-activated phone/audio system/climate controls, navigation system ($2,000 bought separately) and emergency messaging runs $4,300 on both cars.

Individual options include a premium sound system with CD player at $1,500 and reverse park control at $400.

The V-6 we tested added only the premium sound package while the V-8 offered the weather, sports and communications packages plus the sound system.

What really set the V-8 apart from the V-6 was the CATS (horrid name, don’t you think?) suspension system on the V-8, which seems to put the vehicle on rails whenever making an aggressive maneuver in corner or turn.

On twisty country roads the V-8 with CATS and 17-inch radials far outperforms the V-6 without either. Without CATS, the V-6 is a tad stiff, with CATS the V-8 is nimbl e and more in harmony with each change in road direction and surface. With CATS, you sit flat and can accelerate into and out of those corners with the V-8 when you might be prone to tap the brake pedal with the V-6.

CATS is what prompts Jaguar to promote the S-Type as a sports luxury sedan rather than just a luxury sedan. No argument here.

Sadly, the Lincoln LS will not offer CATS.

A feature that enamored us to the S-Type though it doesn’t contribute a wit to ride or performance is the voice-activated controls. Let the geeks play with the dot.coms; give us voice controls.

Press the button on the steering wheel, utter “dial” and a number and the phone rings the person.

Press the button and state “climate control–72 degrees,” and the air conditioner kicks on and the digital setting moves to 72.

Press the button and say “CD play disc one, track two” and the soundtrack from “Titanic” plays.

It also responds to radio station and cassette tape commands. Push another button and the radio will turn to traffic reports. A microphone in the headliner reacts to the driver’s voice.

We nearly wore out a CD, though learning that anytime you mutter an “ah,” the voice controls will turn on you. “CD play disc one, ah, track two” will get you disc one, track 22.

The navigation system is OK, but as we previously have admitted, we quickly tire of any such system. Night Vision, the infrared heat imaging system being offered in the 2000 Cadillac DeVille that “sees” through rain, fog or snow to avoid objects in the road would prove more useful.

We tested the Jaguars at a Midwest Automotive Media Association road rallye through DeKalb and environs. Have to admit that frequent course changes proved the value of having a map of where you are and where you are going on the screen in the dash.

But, global positioning satellites that provide point A to point B routing don’t take into account a rallye master’s detours that force the system to constantly update.

And when stopping for a soft drink (yes, the S-Type has a cupholder), the route had to be reprogrammed.

Voice-activated map routing (“to DeKalb from Oak Brook”) would be easier and less time consuming than having to dial the destination letter by letter after pinpointing the city and choosing shortest or most scenic route.

But the navigation system makes emergency messaging possible to pinpoint where you are so you can quickly send for help. And if the standard front- and/or side-impact bags deploy, medical help is sent immediately.

Other noteworthy S-Type features, include headlamp heaters that go on automatically when the outside temperature drops below 33 degrees; Park Control ($400 option), a sonar system that warns when a pet, person or object is behind when backing up by letting out a series of beeps that turns to a wail when you get within 8 inches; and emergency roadside assistance in which you push the “i” button in the console to summon help if you run out of gas o r have a flat tire.

And a most novel touch finds a retractable plastic hanger that pulls down from the glove box lid.

“What’s this?” we asked Jaguar spokeswoman Cristina Bruzzi.

“A hanger for your purse,” she replied.

“And for those of us who don’t have a purse?” we asked.

“Get one,” she replied.

The S-Type V-6 starts at $42,400, the V-8 at $48,000. About 20,000 will be shipped to the U.S. this year, evenly divided between V-6s and V-8s.

The companion Lincoln LS comes out June 1 with the same V-6 but a 3.9-liter V-8 built by Ford. The LS, unlike the S-type, will offer a 5-speed Select Shift with automatic or clutchless manual.

The LS V-6 starts at $32,000, the V-8 at $35,225. The LS won’t offer a navigation system, emergency messaging, voice controls or CATS. The S-Type and LS will compete with the BMW 5-Series.

>> 2000 Jaguar S-Type sedan
© 19 99 Chicago Tribune Wheelbase: 114.5 inches_ Length: 191.3 inches Engine: 3-liter, 240-h.p. V-6; 4-liter, 281-h.p. V-8 Transmission: 5-speed automatic Fuel economy: 18 m.p.g. city/26 m.p.g. highway V-6; 17/23 V-8 Base price: $42,400 V-6; $48,000 V-8 Price as tested: $43,900 V-6; $50,500 V-8; Includes $1,500 for premium sound system with CD player in V-6 and V-8; and $1,200 for weather package with heated seats, rain-sensing wipers and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC); $1,100 for sport package with Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) and 17-inch wheels and tires; and $4,300 for deluxe communications package with portable cellular phone, voice activated phone/audio/climate controls, navigation system and emergency messaging system in V-8. Add $500 freight for V-6 or V-8. Pluses: Knockout styling with lots of character. DSC and CATS mean superb road manners. Voice-activated controls fun to play with. V-6 smooth, quiet and powerful; V-8 smoother, quieter, more powerful. Minuses: Prefer Cadillac’s Night Vision infrared imaging over Jaguar’s navigation system.

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