Good morning all. Looking for some insight into various gearbox options. I have a 2012 XF n/a. What's the actual difference between Sport and Dynamic? I understand the manual shifting option in Sport but if I select either Sport or Dynamic, but not both, and let the car shift by itself what's the difference between the 2 settings? (BTW, I usually just leave the car in Dynamic, which I really like.) When I've had the car in Dynamic and placed the rotary control in Sport, but not shifted manually, it seems like it shifts out of first and wants to redline shift in the remaining gears. Is that your experience? As usual the Jag literature is a bit thin. Thanks for your feedback.

 

The selection of either "D" or "S" with the rotary control changes the behavior of the transmission and nothing else. In "S" the transmission shifts much later and holds a lower gear for enhanced acceleration and engine braking and for more "sporty" driving, and in your model the paddles are only active in "S". The "Dynamic Mode" button (checkered flag) controls several things depending on the model of the car. With your model it will have no effect on the suspension but will quicken throttle and steering response, alter slightly the exhaust note, and modify the transmission settings somewhat, especially with when or if the transmission will shift on its own when using the paddles in "S". The transmission acts differently depending on the settings of both these controls. "D" and standard mode gives the best fuel economy and smoothest response while still allowing for pretty impressive performance when the pedal is depressed. "D" with dynamic mode would be the next sportier setting, then "S" in standard mode, and the hottest performance is found in "S" in dynamic mode.

 

Thanks for a very comprehensive and clear answer. Helps a lot. In your experience, if Dynamic mode is selected and the rotary control is in "S", at what rpm's will upshifts (other than first to second) occur? My limited trial seemed to indicate that the shifts occur at very high rpm's, although I admit when I've tried this combination I've chickened out and shifted out of "S" when the rpm's continued to climb without an upshift.

 

It depends on how far you have the gas pedal pressed. If you press the gas pedal lightly it will shift sooner, vice versa, and regardless of whether you're in D, S, Dynamic on or off. There's nothing to worry about revving the engine in the upper ranges. It's physically impossible to overrev the engine, the computer won't allow it.