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PROGRESS can hurt the soul. For proof, look at the 1988 Jaguar XJ6.

It’s 150 pounds lighter than the voluptuous Series III XJ6 sedan itreplaces. That means it’s more fuel-efficient.

The electrical system in the new XJ6 actually works: Wiring andconnectors are better than those in the old here’s-a-short,there’s-a-short, check-the-fuses model.

Rust protection in the 1988 XJ6 is finally up to snuff — no morearriving at the country club with brown spots in your Jaguar RacingGreen.

Technically, the new XJ6 is a fine piece of work.

But it flops in titillation.

With all of that improvin’ and reshapin’, the car’s makers goofed.They scrapped too much of the doo-wop.

Doo-wop is a key part of a car’s head-turning quotient, its abilityto attract oohs and ahhs.

Doo-wop adds lust, rhythm and soul to HTQ. It’s the differencebetween “ooh” and “Ooohhhwheee!,” between “ahh” and “Oh, yes! Yes! Yes!”

Doo-wop, in short, is what the new XJ6 ain’t.

Complaint: The XJ6’s redesign was meant “to maintain Jaguar’sgraceful styling heritage” in a car that’s also “aerodynamicallyefficient and stable.”

The designers got aerodynamic efficiency. But they threw much of thecar’s “styling heritage” to the wind.

The old Series III XJ6 — with its “eyebrows” above the headlights,its distinctively styled rear, and its chrome-plated gas caps for itsdual fuel tanks — drew attention wherever it went. But, from thesuburbs to the city, the new metal got the snub.

“So, this is the new Jag?” a tony Virginia suburbanite inquired withan air of dismissal.

“Man, that’s a Jag? For real? Don’t look like no Jag, ‘cept for thefront,” said a fellow pumping gas downtown.

‘Twas utterly distressing. I mean, for $40,000-plus, I wanna benoticed and loved.

Praise: Thankfully, the designers didn’t mess up the XJ6’s interior.They threw in some digital-dash work and a little more plastic, andreworked some buttons and dials to make them more readable andaccessible. But the cabin still has lots of doo-wop.

The interior looks and feels rich and sexy. The ample displays ofsupple leather and walnut wood veneer are assembled well. Overallcraftsmanship, exterior and interior, is top-notch.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Superior ride. Excellentacceleration. Superior braking. Very good handling.

The rear-wheel-drive 1988 XJ6 is equipped with an all-aluminum alloy,3.6-liter, twin-cam, 24-valve, fuel-injected, inline six- cylinderengine rated 195 hp at 5,000 rpm. The new engine is 120 pounds lighterthan the 4.2-liter, six-cylinder model that powered the Series III XJ6.

An electronically controlled “limp-home” feature in the new engineallows the car to remain driveable for short distances in the event ofeight types of engine failure.

Sound system: Unbelievable! A Clarion system that competes with thebest in the business! Clarion is usually disappointing sound. But thesix-speaker AM/FM stereo unit in the 1988 XJ6 is terrific.

Mileage: About 22 to the gallon (22.3-gallon tank, estimated 500-milerange on usable volume), combined city-highway, running with one to fiveoccupants and no luggage.

Price: $43,915, including a $415 transportation charge. The car’slong list of standard equipment includes a four-speed automatictransmission with trademark Jaguar J-gate selector, anti-lock brakes,power-operated windows and sunroof and enough leather to clothe anentire punk-rock band.

Dealer’s invoice price is $34,800.

Purse-strings note: Potential buyers might want to compare the 1988XJ6’s pricing and features with those of the splendid Mercedes-Benz 300E sedan, which goes for $43,700.