WHILE THE AUTOMOTIVE world turns its attention to the new age E-Type, to be based on the C-X16 concept unveiled at last fall’s Frankfurt show, well-heeled Jaguar buyers recovering from various recent global financial crises can get their kicks with the brand’s most powerful drop-top ever.
Jaguar unveiled the convertible body XKR-S at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. Our first drive was a preproduction prototype, with thin strips of yellow stickers intersecting body panel gaps (to measure chassis flex), a full rollcage, fire extinguisher, Sparco racing seats,four-point seatbelts, and a matte-black paint job. Everything else was production ready, including mechanical bits identical to the car’s coupe counter-part, which means Jaguar’s direct-injection, supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 542 hp and 502 Ib-ft of torque. The XKR-S convertible recreates the coupe’s magic, but with a windblown effect. Not only does the active, free-flowing exhaust sound spectacular, it’s part of the horsepower-increasing equation, along with remapped fuel characteristics, with 32 more horses more than the XKR.
Cruising at 55 mph, wind noise and bufÂfeting are minimal, the boisterous exhaust note is absent, and normal conversation is possible.The suspension is stiff, but driving over freeway bumps and imperfections is never jarring. Like the XKR-S coupe, the convertible’s suspension has a more robust aluminum steering knuckle and an active differential. Damper and spring rates are 28 percent stiffer front and rear.
Sticky 20-inch Pirelli PZeros combined with Jaguar’s Active Damping system keep the XKR-S flat and planted through tight corners. Downshifting the Jag’s six-speed automatic is met with rev-matched throttle blips, exhaust pops, and plenty of power. Jaguar claims the convertible scoots 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, the same time needed for the coupe.
Turns out all 125 XKR-S, $16,759,375 worth, are sold out. Looks like you’ll have to wait for the production C-X16 after all.