New Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible has a lot to answer for. It has ruined virtually every other car on the road – at least for me – as nothing else feels as special. This predator can, in fact, rip a pedestrian's cloths-off at five-hundred yards. This is thanks to its astonishing 5.0- litre V8 engine that produces an unholy 550bhp. That is equivalent to more than seven Citroen C1s combined. This monstrous power is sent to the rear wheels via six-speed automatic transmission. And the result? This two-door lifestyle statement rockets to 62mph in only 4.4 seconds. Top speed is a thrilling 186mph, which is marginally more than the C1.

Now, it goes without saying that the Jaguar XKR-S Convertible handles beautifully. Even naked pedestrians can see that as this mighty machine roars past.

It is also obvious that this £103,000 beauty has agonisingly good looks, more gadgets than the space shuttle, and enough prestige to make Ferrari drivers look twice. However, this vehicle has another important strength. It complements its new siblings to create a modern and vibrant Jaguar.

This is important as - in the recent past - Jaguar suffered from a significant problem. The marque was considered old fashioned and stuffy - rather too 'golf club' for some. So, RIP classically themed S-Type. Farewell traditional XJ that wore a similar suit for decades - and goodnight unloved X-Type. Hello to the striking XF. Greetings bang-up-to-date new XJ – and welcome to the party XKR-S. Jaguar has evolved and its claws are extremely sharp.

By Stephen Turvil, motoring.co.uk

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