After being privatised in 1984, Jaguar had been developing a smaller saloon to complement the XJ6 by the early 1990s, but these plans were axed following its takeover by Ford in 1989, only to resurface within a few years.  The S-Type was produced at Jaguar's Castle Bromwich facility in Birmingham, England. The car was styled by Geoff Lawson in 1995 and is based on the Jaguar DEW platform/Ford DEW platform, shared with the Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird.[2]It was unveiled at the Birmingham International Motor Show on 20 October 1998.  The first S-Types ("X200" 1999–2002) are distinguished by a U-shaped centre consoleand optional touchscreen navigation system in the 2003 and later models. The traditional leaping jaguar bonnet mascot was optional and is approved by the US and EU standards and breaks away in the case of an accident. Subsequent models ("X202", "X204", "X206"; the last digit denoting the model year) have the Jaguar logo incorporated within the radiator grille and a more traditional 'looped' styling for the centre console. In Australia, the "leaper" bonnet mascot did not become available until 2004.