Jaguar XKR Convertible : WE HAVE LIFT OFF

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Jaguar's charismatic V8 is better still in the open air. Steve Walker takes a look at the XKR Convertible.

The need to seat a family of four, stay affordable on that family's budget and accommodate the wardrobe from their back bedroom with seats folded down can play havoc with a good motorcar. We all need a certain degree of practicality but it's when the harshest constraints are lifted that things can really get interesting. Creating a user-friendly, sub £15,000 MPV is hugely challenging for the car designer but conjuring up a vehicle built around power, luxury and sensory experiences has got to be a real blast. Presented with just such a remit, Jaguar's creative team came up with the XKR Convertible.

There are plenty of options out there for the sports convertible buyer with £80,000 burning a hole in his or her pocket. Assuming that performance is a big priority, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the BMW 650Ci and the Mercedes SL500 would all be desirable options. Aston Martin's Vantage isn't a million miles away price-wise either. This is the definition of stiff competition but Jaguar is a brand with newfound confidence and the stomach for a fight. In the past, Jaguar played second fiddle to the leading German brands with regards to engine technology. Not any more. The XK's 5.0-litre V8 is a high class, modern unit and with a supercharger bolted on in XKR form, it steps up to another level. The 510bhp is only half the story. With the aid of its supercharger, the engine produces 625Nm of torque all the way from 2,500rpm to 5,500rpm. That equates to a formidable amount of urge available right where you need it. Plant the throttle and the XKR Convertible will hit 60mph from a standing start in 4.6s and it takes just 1.9s to blast from 50mph to 70mph.

"The XKR coupe is a car that will reward the keen driver more fully but the convertible is all about the experience"

On the road, there is a certain amount of detectable flex in the chassis as a result of this Convertible model being divested of its fixed roof. It doesn't impact on the XKR too seriously however, as this isn't a car developed for the racetrack. Its active suspension makes for comfortable cruising and the direct steering and slick automatic transmission combine with the effortless pace from the engine to produce an exhilarating driving experience. The gearbox is a paddle-operated six-speed Jaguar Sequential Shift automatic that can adapt to the driver's style. This is marshalled by a neat rotary knob of the JaguarDrive Selector which resides where the gear lever would otherwise be. Unlike many premium convertibles, the XKR drop top model relies on a fabric roof rather than the voguish folding hard top, but there are valid engineering reasons for doing so. Folding tin tops require a whole host of heavy electric motors to operate and the ethos of the latest XKR is clever design and light weight. It may be a mere 1.5cm longer than the old car, but thanks to that advanced aluminium construction, its weight is just 1,800kg. The hood does its stuff in a fraction less than 18 seconds, stowing neatly beneath an aluminium tonneau, so you should be able to go from open to closed or vice versa in the time it takes for a set of traffic lights to change. The XKR gets a more aggressive front end than the standard XK and like the XK, features LED indicator lights on its wing mirrors. There are LED tail light clusters at the rear and the low bumper helps produce the car's ground-hugging stance. The car is edgier, more angular than you expect upon first acquaintance, but the curve of the waistline up over the rear wheelarch gives it a really powerful look. XKR-specific bits include that more aggressive front bumper with colour keyed finish that incorporates tall air intakes on each side, aluminium trimmed side power vents, old-school bonnet louvres and an aluminium trim on the mesh grilles. There's additional aluminium brightwork on the rear and 20-inch alloys as standard along with heated and cooled seats, Jaguar Premium Surround Sound, alloy pedals and a heated windscreen. Blake brake callipers with an `R' logo are fitted, as is a quad exhaust system. The XKR's engine is not the big, crude V8 you'd find in an American muscle car. This is a highly advanced piece of metal work on Jaguar's part with its aluminium construction, independent variable cam timing and spray guided direct injection. It all spells decent efficiency as well as big performance, even if that is in the context of a 500bhp sports convertible. Economy is measured at 23mpg on the combined cycle while emissions of CO2 are measured at 292g/km but it could be worse. People spending £80,000 on a sports convertible want something that feels special and that's where Jaguar's XKR Convertible scores big. From its 510bhp V8 engine to the classy interior ambience, it's a car that fills the senses and makes the most mundane drive a real experience. It isn't the uncompromising sportscar that so many of its rivals strive to be but it has the raw pace to live with the best and rewards handsomely on a flowing road while also maintaining an element of comfort. The XKR coupe is a car that will reward the keen driver more fully but the convertible is all about the experience. The hugely impressive engine seems that bit better when you can hear it doing its thing without the interference of a fixed canopy and the cabin on the latest cars is classier than ever. The rear seats are virtually useless but two-seater convertibles don't get much better than this at any price.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Jaguar XKR Convertible range
PRICE: £78,400 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 292g/km
PERFORMANCE: (coupe) Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 4.6s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 23mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS / EBD / TRACS stability and traction control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4791/2070/1329mm