Visitors attending next week’s 2011 Los Angeles International Automobile Show (November 16 to 28) will have the opportunity to witness the latest offerings from Jaguar and Land Rover, one of which will make its world premiere.

The new XKR-S Convertible is the model that will make its first-ever public outing – at least in production form, as we’ve already scooped prototypes doing the rounds at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The 550HP open top model will feature the same styling tweaks, suspension and performance modifications as the XKR-S coupe that was launched last March at the Geneva Motor Show.

Among other changes are a new front end featuring a redesigned bumper with side winglets and a vented hood. The XKR-S Convertible will also sport new alloy wheels, side skirts, an anything-but-subtle rear wing, rear diffuser and four tailpipes

This convertible is not all show and no go; on the contrary, the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 pumps out 550HP and 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) offering a not-too-shabby 4.2-second 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time in the coupe.

Since power is almost useless without control, Jaguar’s engineers have also retuned and lowered the suspension and have fitted high-performance brakes.

Land Rover’s main attraction will be the Defender-previewing DC100 concept that premiered at the IAA and, as reported, will cross the Atlantic in a slightly changed form.

Land Rover says it decided to alter the DC100 after receiving feedback from visitors at the Frankfurt show.

According to the company, the L.A. show version will get a “Heritage Blue” body color and new wheels and tires, which according to the company, are optimized for off-road driving, emphasizing the model’s rugged character and 4×4 capabilities.

“Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be demonstrating for the U.S. market the latest design and technology advancements we have made with both brands”, said JLR CEO Dr. Ralf Speth. “Our presence here reflects the fact that the U.S. is an important market for our global growth plans, and Southern California is a key region from a business and a global trends perspective.”

Apart from the aforementioned models, Jaguar will also display its C-X16 hybrid sports car concept that debuted in Frankfurt and is billed both as a modern-day E-Type and a Porsche Cayman / 911 rival.

JAGUAR XKR-S CONVERTIBLELAND ROVER DC100 FRANKFURT SHOW CONCEPTS