Jaguar XKR-S Convertible (2011) first pictures

Jaguar has announced the smallest surprise of the year - a convertible version of the rabid XKR-S. We all knew it was coming, but it shouldn't take the sheen off the fastest and most powerful Jaguar open-top road car ever.

It's essentially the cabrio bodyshell mated to the XKR-S mechanical spec. That means the AJ-V8 Gen3 V8, tuned to produce a startling 543bhp and 502lb ft of torque.

Very rapid indeed. The supercharged cabrio has a claimed top speed of 186mph and will pass the benchmark 60mph in 4.2sec.

If you're a speed freak, you may not be as interested in the 292g/km of CO2 rating.

The XKR-S follows the bad-boy attitude of the coupe: there's a new bumper design, a whopping air intake design, carbonfibre splitters and a 10mm drop in ride height. Any lower and it'd be billed by Chelsea and Westminster Council for scraping away the King's Road.

Naturally, the roof of the XKR-S is automatically powered from nought to posing in just 18 seconds. And the most expensive Jag sports car is dripping with equipment, including 16-way adjustable leather seats and a choice of piano black or dark aluminium trim for the cabin.

CAR is driving the XKR-S Convertible this autumn; stay tuned for our first drive review.

By Tim Pollard