There’s a new attitude at Jaguar — one that’s as aggressive as the styling of its cars — that has come about since Ford took over a decade ago. The new Jaguar X-Type epitomizes it in terms of quality, performance and of course, style.

In the past, Jaguars had developed a well-deserved reputation for being long on style and short on dependability. Ford has changed all that, and in a recent dependability study by J.D. Power and Associates, Jaguar was tied with Mercedes.

I had the opportunity to drive the new X-Type as part of Jaguar’s Global Launch Program — and I came away impressed. This isn’t the mix-n-match parts bin car some other manufacturers ballyhoo as a “new” car. This is a total departure from any previous Jaguar.

The obvious place to start is exterior styling. “Historically, Jaguars always look as if they’re moving, even when they’re standing still,” said principal stylist Wayne Burgess. The X-Type is no exception. In keeping with the established Jaguar “look,” there are obvious touches of classic Jag styling — such as the leaning forward grill for example. But in marrying form with function, it actually achieves a better air flow in the process. This is typical of the way the X-Type is engineered.

Body lines flow upward from the headlights to the raised deck lid, giving that look of fluid movement, while a wide front stance and gently flared wheel wells add to the aggressive look Jaguar is famous for. You know this a Jaguar at first glance.

The most notable thing about the X-Type is that it’s all-wheel drive (AWD) — something completely new for Jaguar. It’s the only standard AWD sedan in this segment of the market, which includes the Lexus IS 300, Mercedes C-Class, 3-Series BMW and Audi A4 among others. BMW and Audi both offer an AWD system, but it’s optional.

The interior is classic Jaguar, with extensive use of wood and leather throughout. “We use wood in an architectural way,” noted Burgess. “Competitors use wood in a decorative manner. Wood doesn’t like compound curvatures and much of what you see in other cars is actually plastic, not wood. We use wood in a traditional way that defines Jaguar.”

In some models of the X-Type that wood is dark stained maple, while its the traditional Jaguar walnut in others. According to brand manager Simon Sproule, that’s because Americans tend to favor the darker woods while Europeans the walnut.

However, the way the wood is utilized gives the impression of the interior being wider and roomier than it actually is. There are also five colors of high quality Connelly-brand leather standard. “A Jaguar has to have leather and it has to have wood, or it isn’t a Jaguar to many people,” commented Sproule.

Basic instrumentation is accentuated with chrome rings, is well laid out and large enough that, except for the odometer, it’s easy to read at a glance.

The optional $2,200 navigation system utilizes a touch screen with infrared sensors, so you don’t actually have to touch it. Dealer-installed voice recognition programming for the navigation system allows voice control of primary functions for audio, climate control, telephone and the satellite navigation system. It recognizes American English, British English and Australian English, while all of the mapping information is contained on a single DVD. There are only four DVDs for the entire world — as opposed to the 32 CDs used in most current systems. There’s also a $1,500 JaguarNet emergency messaging system with integrated digital cellular phone available.

Seating is extremely comfortable and supportive with more than adequate leg and headroom front and rear. In the two days driving partner Ashly Knapp (the “Auto Advisor” of Seattle radio and TV fame) and I spent driving this car through the French countryside, we both continually commented to each other on its high comfort level.

Naturally, it comes standard with power windows, driver’s seat, mirrors and all the other amenities you expect in a Jaguar, including tilt-telescope steering wheel, automatic climate control, AM/FM/cassette, remote keyless entry and cruise control, as well as rain sensing wipers. It also has the largest trunk of any Jaguar, at 16 cubic feet.

Under the hood, standard is a 2.5-liter V6 that puts 194 horses to the highway. Optional is a 3.0 that delivers 231 horses, and there is a no-cost option of a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic for both engines. An automatic with a manual shift feature utilizing a much-improved version of Jaguar’s traditional automatic J-gate shifter is a $1,275 option.

Both V6s are the first transversely mounted Jaguar powerplants. They’re based on the V6 in the Jaguar S-Type, featuring dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and continuously variable valve timing. Both are responsive and accelerate well. The 3.0-liter model does the 0-60 mph drill in 6.6 seconds with the manual and in 7.1 with the automatic. The 2.5-liter version gets to 60 in 7.9 seconds with the stick and 8.5 seconds with the automatic.

According to Michael Driscoll, president of Jaguar’s North American operations, there is an R-version — Jaguar’s supercharged ultra-high performance designation — on the drawing board for the 2003 model year.

However, the real story is how well this car handles. Our travels took us on a wide variety of roads from the French equivalent of freeways to winding, twisting two-lane mountain roads, as well as gently rolling country roads and the narrow streets of country villages. We also put some time in on a racetrack near Dijon.

The AWD holds this car to the road like glue. It features a 40/60 torque split from front to rear, with a rear wheel bias, giving it the balanced feel of a rear-drive car. This is an “invisible” system that doesn’t call for driver involvement — nor does it make you feel as if you’re in an AWD vehicle — except for the extra traction it delivers. When wheel-spin is detected, a viscous center differential transfers power from the wheels which are slipping to those with the best traction.

We each drove very aggressively, both on dry pavement and in the rain, attempting to make the AWD system break loose at some point. We were only able to accomplish that a couple of times during some fairly extreme maneuvers, and then only momentarily with the car recovering very quickly.

The standard suspension works well and in my view delivers a better ride than the heavier S-Type. There’s also a double bearing top strut mount that eliminates any torque steer from the front wheels. But a $2,000 Sport Package which features sport seats with extra support, stability control system, stiffer suspension with 17-inch (versus 16-inch) wheels and wider tires sharpen it even more.

Naturally, very strong four-wheel ABS disk brakes are standard, and they bring the X-Type to a stop in very short order. However, some continual hard braking on the twisting race track did cause some brake fade.

Whines: There are no daytime running lights, the brake pedal feels a bit spongy and the clutch pedal has a sort of dead feel. Also, the odometer is a bit difficult to read. You can’t get the Sport Package without ordering the $2,500 Premium package, which contains such items as a power glass sunroof and power front passenger seat. The rear doors could open wider for easier entry and exit.

Applause: Although it’s an entry-level model, the X-Type is very well equipped. It’s as much fun to drive as the 3-Series BMW with a more luxurious interior, and feels sportier than the Mercedes C-Class. Both engines produce lots of torque at low and mid-range speeds, and ironically, I personally found it more fun to drive than Jaguar’s larger, faster and more stylish S and XJ sedans. There’s a comprehensive 4-year/50,000-mile warranty and road-wide assistance program.

Bottom Line: The new X-Type feels every bit a Jaguar — even with a $29,950 sticker price for the 2.5-liter version and $35,950 for the 3.0. The next least costly Jaguar is the S-Type, which starts at $43,655. Many X-Type buyers are expected to be younger people who can’t afford the more upscale Jaguars but like the sporty, upscale Jaguar image. Many are also expected to be women who will gravitate to the style of a Jaguar as well as the security of all-wheel-drive — without having to buy a sport-utility vehicle.

The AWD Jaguar X-Type will be an instant success when it hits the showrooms in this country on Aug. 1 — and it deserves to be. It’s a great car.