FUn any road with 2011 Jaguar XKR Convertible

Ever since Tata Motors purchased Jaguar and Land Rover from the Ford Motor Company in 2008, diehard Jaguar enthusiasts have worried that the Indian automaker might fail to fund the stately British brands in pursuit of other projects. Showing that they are good to their word, Tata has allowed Jaguar to continue to grow and thrive, despite tough market conditions.

Perhaps the best manifestation of where Jaguar is going can be found in the XKR convertible, a luxury 2+2 convertible that is as bold as it is beautiful, offering top down fun rivaling the best of what Europe has to offer to the rest of the world.

Jaguar redesigned the XK line recently, to create a high fashion, high speed engineering achievement. Powered by a supercharged 4.2L V8 producing 420 horsepower and mated with a six-speed automatic transmission (with shift paddles), the XKR moves the convertibles rear wheels with precision, relying on stability control and a computer activated suspension system to keep the Jaguar on track. Performance ventilated disc brakes and an anti-lock brake system ensures that the cat stops on a dime, every time.

Though seating is for four, the rear compartment is best occupied by small children or by no one at all. With front seats pushed back, precious little room is left for anyone else, making the rear area much more suitable to use as supplemental storage space to complement the woefully tiny trunk compartment. But, no one buys the XKR for its rear room or storage space, choosing to red-line this baby and enjoy its segment leading ride quality.