2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible Photos, engines & full specs

Jaguar released the coupe and the convertible versions of the XKR-S' second generation at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and customers were eager to get their hands on them.

When the British car manufacturer introduced the first generation of the XKR-S in 2008, it didn't know if customers would pay the price for it. But it quickly sold them all, and then it launched the open-top version of it, which was also sold as fast as its hard-roof sibling. So, for the second generation of this nameplate, Jaguar didn't want to try the market. It launched both versions at the same time, so customers could choose their flavor: with or without a retractable roof. The convertible wasn't aimed to win any races, but it was still capable of keeping up with serious sports cars. On the other hand, it provided a high level of luxury that could make its customers understand why they paid the high sticker price for it. On top of that, it behaved like a muscle car, especially thanks to the loud exhaust and the supercharged V8 under the hood.

From the outside, the XKR-S Convertible kept the same front fascia as its coupe brother. It featured an oval-shaped mesh grille on the upper side of the bumper that resembled the famous E-Type Roadster from the '60s, albeit broader. On the lower side, below the transverse slat that supported the license plate, the automaker installed a carbon-fiber splitter that increased the downforce on the front wheels. On the forward side of the hood, the automaker installed two gaps that also helped to cool the car's supercharged engine.

From its profile, the XKR-S Convertible boasted its black 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 255/35 tires at the front and 295/30 ones at the back. The automaker installed thick A-pillars to support the windshield since they also served as rollover protection systems. Behind them, the car's ascending waistline ran towards the back, only to descend slowly on the deck where the automaker installed a wing on the trunk lid. From its rear, the XKR-S Convertible revealed its four exhausts integrated into the carbon-fiber rear diffuser under the bumper.

But Jaguar knew that its customers were looking for luxurious interiors, so it created a leather-wrapped cabin with sports seats and integrated headrests for the front occupants. Like on the rest of the open-top XK range, there was hardly any room left for rear passengers. But still, the British automaker installed a bench seat profiled for two, upholstered in the same type of leather as the front seats. The dark aluminum trims on the dashboard sported the R-S badge in front of the side passenger.

Jaguar's engineering team delved into the five-liter engine to increase its power output. It incorporated a Roots-type supercharger and adjusted the injection mapping, so the result was a 550 PS (543 hp) V8 engine. It paired it with a six-speed automatic gearbox that sent the power to the rear wheels via an adaptive differential.