More About the Shared-Platform Jaguar S-Type and Lincoln LS

Today's post is a more systematic than my previous treatment of styling differences of the 1999 Jaguar S-Type and 2000 Lincoln LS that shared the same platform.

Some background on the S-Type is here, and on the LS is here.  Geof Lawson is credited for the Jaguar styling and Helmuth Schrader is cited regarding the Lincoln.   Not mentioned is whether the basic platform work was done in the USA or in the UK.  Or if shared, what input percentages were by each side.

The Jaguar example below is a 1999 S-Type, photos via Car and Classic Auctions in England.  The Lincoln is a 2003 LS, photos from Bring a Trailer Auctions.

Gallery

Side views generally best reveal structural similarities.  Above is the 1999 Jaguar S-Type.

Here is the 2003 Lincoln LS.  Both cars have the same 114.5-inch (2908 mm) wheelbase, and their lengths are virtually the same.  The most similar area is between the cowling and the after cutline of the front door, including the B-pillar. That is, the windshields are the same, the doors have nearly the same cutlines at the front and what looks like the same cutlines at the pillar.  Wheel openings seem to be the same shape.  The front bumper horizontal cutlines also look the same.  Other details differ to varying degrees.

Front comparisons.

No similarities here.  That's because frontal design is important for brand recognition.

Rear views.

Underlying rear bumper structure is probably the same, given the sizes of the impact areas.  Trunk shapes and cutlines differ.  The Jaguar's roof profile looks slightly more rounded from this perspective.

Rear quarter.

Most of Ford's tooling budget for differentiating these cars is seen here.  Nearly everything abaft of the B-pillars is unique.  Wheel openings were noted above.  Trunk lengths are about the same.  But even the gasoline filler doors don't match.

Front quarter.

That the windshields are the same is clear from this viewpoint.  The stylists did an excellent job of disguising the fact that these two cars shared the same platform.  Hardly a touch of "badge engineering" here.