2007 Jaguar XK Convertible Debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show

It was only a matter of time before Jaguar presented a convertible version of its all-new XK sports car; it just so happens that the time between announcements was measured not by months or weeks, but by a matter of days. With the official unveiling of the XK during the press media days of the Frankfurt motor show, Jaguar took the opportunity to show off the open-topped variant.

The legendary British marque claims that the Convertible was engineered and designed side by side with the coupe from the start, as a completely new model in the XK design program. This made for several useful benefits, such as being able to present a complete, pre-production model in Frankfurt, but developing and then building both models at once also prevented unnecessary and often expensive post-production modifications.

Like the Coupe, the XK Convertible makes use of the same revolutionary aluminum monocoque technology also found in the full-size XJ sedan. Unlike Audis ASF space frame, employed in the A2 and A8, the system in the XK uses rivets and epoxy resin for added strength. Jaguar claims that the car tips the scale at just 3,605 pounds, making it the lightest car in its class of four-seat grand touring convertibles, but still nowhere near as lightweight as the 3,199 pound fiberglass-bodied Corvette Convertible - albeit the American model is only a two-seat roadster.

While the previous generation XK Convertible wasnt exactly what Id call a purists sports car, mostly due to its substantial girth and flexing body structure, the new vehicles more rigid construction, lighter curb weight, sophisticated suspension and, reportedly, communicative steering system should forge a new image for Jaguar. Some of that structural rigidity comes from extra bracing under the cars skin and, it could be said because of the aluminum skin itself. Add this to the additional electric components required for the folding soft top roof, and the weight penalty is surprisingly small at just 88 pounds.

For the most part, the XK Convertible is identical to the XK Coupe, with the same nose, tail and elegant midsection. Where things differ is at the convertible roof, which takes on different styling than the Coupe. The triple-fabric top, which is able to raise or retract in a mere eighteen seconds, features a square glass rear window canted at a more upright angle, that to my eyes isnt as pleasing as the Coupes sweeping fastback. Less emphasis is put on the bulging rear haunches in the Convertible. Protection against rollovers is provided by pop-up hoops which only activate if an eminent rollover is detected.

Power for the XK Convertible is provided by a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 motor that generates 300-horsepower. Performance of the open-topped version is nearly identical to the pace set by the hardtop XK: 60 mph is attained in a tick over six seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. Initially, this will be the only engine offered, mated to a six-speed automatic, although the supercharged 400-horsepower XKR will be offered sometime down the road. Theres a possibility that Jaguar will introduce diesel power for the XK too, although it may be a few years down the road as the automakers current production straight-six diesel doesnt fit. Of course, it is highly unlikely a diesel-powered XK will make it to North America.

The XK Convertible is probably the more important of the two Jaguars offered, and will play a critical role in preventing the luxury marques sales from further decline. In the U.S., one of Jaguars largest markets, the soft-top XK accounts for a massive 83 percent of total XK sales. Elsewhere, the drop-top is just as important, as it outsells the fixed-head version by a significant margin.

Look for the next-generation XK to arrive in showrooms early in 2006, with the convertible version arriving a few months later. Pricing will be set somewhere between 80,000 and 90,000 euro ($98,000 - $110,500).