Used 2010 Jaguar XK Coupe

Should you find yourself behind the wheel of the 2010 Jaguar XKR Convertible, we almost wouldn't blame you for adopting a little automotive snobbery. It's not that we condone that sort of thing; it's just that this desirable drop top is so much better than nearly everything it shares the road with. And if there's a car whose name better suits its personality, we're not aware of it -- with more than 500 horsepower and silken, effortless movement, the XKR is most deserving of its "Jaguar" moniker.

Though it looks pretty much the same as last year's model, the newest top cat is even quicker and more luxurious. The heart of the beast is a larger (5.0-liter versus 4.2-liter) supercharged V8 that smoothly spins out nearly 100 hp more than before. A slight styling refresh for this year fluffs up the Jag's fur via new front air intakes and LED taillights, while the cockpit adopts the trick rotary gear selector first seen in the XF.

Given its slinky styling and opulent cabin, one may consider the XKR to be a boulevard cruiser, albeit a rapid one. But as we discovered, they'd be mistaken. The XKR can easily play the role of a responsive sports car or relaxed grand tourer (a car that rapidly covers ground while pampering its occupants). It just depends on the driver's mood. Whether it's slicing through a curvy canyon road or loafing along at speed on the interstate, the XKR is comfortable -- literally and figuratively -- in either setting.

And considering its incredible performance, elegant styling and sumptuous interior, the 2010 Jaguar XKR just may be a genuine value. Yes, we're talking about a car with a $102,000 sticker. But at that price, nothing -- except perhaps the BMW M6 convertible -- can touch it for sheer performance, luxury and presence. One may also consider the Mercedes-Benz SL63, Maserati GranTurismo convertible and Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster, but those cars all cost in the neighborhood of $140,000. Whether you base your vehicle purchase decisions on a number-crunching spreadsheet or purely on emotion, the 2010 Jaguar XKR will be mighty tempting.