Jaguar XKR

The 'R' appended to a Jaguar model name is usually the signal to celebrate the birth of another high-performance derivative that promises to excite and at times cosset its occupants. No journalists have yet driven it, but we're pretty confident that the new Jaguar XKR, revealed to the world for the first time at the London Motor Show, will live up to these promises and possibly even exceed expectations.

Jaguar's new lightweight XK has been on sale since the end of 2005 and its advanced construction has enabled the engineers to keep weight down while enhancing safety and specification levels. The results are improved performance, dynamics and fuel economy over the old XK. The XKR builds on this basis, with the emphasis very much on performance and handling.

Under the louvred bonnet lies a supercharged 4.2-litre V8 engine, which is familiar enough to Jaguar followers. In this guise it produces 420bhp and 560Nm of torque. Headline figures claimed by Jaguar include 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds, 50-70mph in 2.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Jaguar showed both Coupe and Convertible versions of the new XKR in London and though the Coupe may be the more sporting drive, the noise from the four exhausts must just be incredible in the open-top car. Coupe prices start at £69,495, which neatly undercuts the BMW M6 and is a massive £30,000 less than the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG, both cars that Jaguar considers to be serious rivals.