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"The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible was revealed last month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. We have now driven the car, at 175 mph no less.   Perhaps even better news is this: While the mere 25 XKR-S&amp;#039; offered in 2012 are already sold, another litter of 100 is being birthed for 2013, and a few are still unclaimed at the $138,000 base price.        2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible    Jaguar&amp;#039;s promise that the XKR-S convertible was as tight and agile as the coupe is spot-on; the drop-top weighs less than 100 lb. more than the coupe and features the same 550-bhp version of Jaguar&amp;#039;s celebrated 4-cam 5.0-liter aluminum V-8, along with the identical 6-speed, paddle-shifted automatic. In short, it drives like the coupe, one without a roof.        2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible    Spurred enthusiastically over a variety of surfaces, the fastest of Jaguar&amp;#039;s convertibles is impressively rigid and surefooted. The XKR was designed as a convertible, so the XKR-S is not a case of trying to stiffen a coupe that has had its roof cut off. It is also blessed with a sophisticated locking differential and intelligent software in the driver-controllable traction and stability control systems. Thus, relaxed cruising with the automatic transmission autonomously selecting the gears, or total manual control to redline in each cog, is easily selected via Jaguar&amp;#039;s unique and intuitive gear selector knob and two additional switches.        2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible    Driven hard, the XKR-S exhibits the same exhilarating acceleration, speed, steering and handling as the coupe. This is definitely a sports car, with light, linear steering response and impressive grip throughout any corner. Traction out of the turns is especially good thanks to the computer-controlled differential, which allows using as much of the 550 bhp as you dare.        2012 Jaguar XKR S Convertible    Running top down, the XKR-S is essentially a draft-free climate-controlled cocoon. Air slipsteams easily over and around the rolled up side windows, meaning wind noise is low up to 90 mph. Above that conversations begin to require effort, but there is almost no air motion in the cockpit thanks again to the raked glass and a pop-up windscreen between the front seats. Heated seats and steering wheel, along with the dual-zone digital climate control, mean you can leave the plaid blanket in the trunk. Numerous powered seat bolsters allow tailoring the seating from race-like support to every-day lounging.        2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible    Ian Callum, Jaguar&amp;#039;s celebrated director of design, justifies the rather tacked-on looking vanes below the headlights and in front of the front tires as vital to aerodynamic stability above 165 mph. Because the XKR-S is electronically capped at 300 km/h (186 mph), they and a balancing rear wing are standard equipment. We were allowed top speed runs on a fighter jet runway and indeed the XKR-S was hands-off stable at 175 mph.   Beginning life as a sveltely styled cruiser, the XK line has matured into a hard-hitting but still coddling sports car. And it&amp;#039;s even better as the XKR-S convertible. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a17983/2012-jaguar-xkr-s-convertible-1/>