The XKR-S was created in Jaguar’s flurry of excitement of no longer being part of the Ford group where its sports cars always sat in the shadow of Aston Martin. Now free to compete with the likes of the DB9 and Vantage Jaguar can finally unleash the potential that their cars had. Add to this the enthusiasm of the Jaguar marketing department to re-position the brand as younger and more modern, and the result is a halo car that goes beyond established Jaguar values.
The Jaguar XKRS roadster claimed the title of being Jaguar’s fastest ever convertible car. A quick glance and you can see that this is a more hardcore car than the standard XKR. The various aerodynamic additions are not just for show; under the hood is a supercharged V8 that sounds truly fantastic. And because the XK was designed with the intention of being a roadster the chassis is both stiff and light. It is only a few kilograms more than the coupe and you won’t notice that without a very accurate stopwatch.
The firmed up suspension no longer has its variable settings and the wider wheels do their best to hold on around corners. Although the interior has lost none of its luxuries there are racing seats to remind you of the potent power on tap.
Unlike the British brand’s cars of the past, there is nothing subtle about this one. The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible is loud and fast both visually and on the road. The suspension is firmed up and the handling is agile and responsive. There are massive amounts of power on tap which gets exciting as grip limitations are passed.
The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible is an intoxicating car to drive because not only is it fast, handsome and a pleasure to drive but the sound of the crackling V8 is one of the best of any car. It may look gentle, but it is a hotrod in a sharp suit.
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