Jaguar XKR 100 Coupe and Convertible $98,330

By : Michael Frank

To celebrate the 100th birthday of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons, this year Jaguar will sell 300 XKR 100 cars in North America. True, you pay quite a premium for that limited-edition status. It costs about 17 grand more for the coupe version of the XKR 100 than for the stock hardtop XKR, but only $12,000 more for the convertible version. And although there will be fewer coupes, don't go thinking you'll somehow get that collector- car value back in your lifetime. Buy the convertible and enjoy driving it; don't buy it for mothballing.

OK, so what do you get that you don't get in the stock XKR? Well, not added engine performance. Stock XKRs get a 370 horsepower supercharged V-8 and a sport-tuned suspension with computer-actuated ride control that automatically picks either firm or soft ride settings in response to your driving style. In other words, with 0-60 times around five seconds flat, the XKR is pretty hairy-chested already. However, if you want a bit better cornering agility, you'll be pleased with the added grip of the 20-inch BBS modular wheels shod with even wider, lower rubber than stock (255/35ZR-20 front, 285/30ZR-20 rear, versus 245/45ZR-18 front, 255/45ZR-18 rear for the stock XKR).

The XKR 100 also gets special Brembo brakes with cross-drilled rotors for better cooling, and some minor-performance suspension tweaks as well.

The rest is cosmetic: anthracite-colored paint, Recaro leather seats (covered in Connolly hide leather--you won't get that if you just order them from Recaro, by the way) and aluminum cockpit trim.

We'd say that makes the upgraded XKR 100 a difficult purchase to justify on its own, since it isn't mechanically different enough than the stock XKR. But we'll render a more considered opinion in a few weeks, after a test drive. Meantime, anyone considering the XKR 100 must also drive the more practical and still lightening fast CLK 55 AMG Mercedes; the CL55 AMG, which is also a great joy to drive (as we mention elsewhere in this article); and the marvelous new Maserati Spyder.