The Jaguar S-Type is a luxury midsize automobile that was produced by British car manufacturer Jaguar Cars from 1999-2008. The car had a retro-inspired design, with traditional styling cues borrowed from Jaguar saloon cars of the 1960s. It was designed to take on cars such as the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series, and was an early contender for the role of the modern executive car. It was available with a variety of engines and trim levels, including the performance-oriented 'R' model.