I recently purchased a 2011 XKR and so far I love the car, but one thing that bothers me is a hesitation when accelerating hard from a dead stop. The car seems to fall flat for a second then it accelerates as it should. Is this the traction control kicking in to prevent wheel spin or is something wrong. It happens in dynamic/sport mode as well as regular drive mode. Has anyone else experienced this.

 

The car launches in second, it might be kicking down to first if you have planted the boot. Try manually shifting into first before you launch and see if that helps.

I think I've noticed it too, but it wouldnt be a second, probably less than half of that.

 

Had the problem with my SV8 (4.2 Supercharged). It went away after changing the transmission fluid. I didn't reflash the TCM, just changed the pan and fluid. I got tired of watching my wife's head hit the headrest. Well actually she was more tired of it than me and she concurs it fixed the problem.

Could have been a coincidence but I first tried cleaning the throttle body to no avail, though it needed a clean so no harm done.

 

Mine does the same - I'm pretty sure it's the traction control - haven't tried totally disabling the TC - bit wary of doing so when not having anywhere to let the back end slither all over the place.

One day......

 

I think you will find that it launches in 1st. My 07 XKR definitely does and I used the gearbox current gear monitor tool in SDD to confirm it.

When it was debated a couple of years ago some 5.0L owners counted the gear changes and confirmed it in theirs as well.

 

Mine starts in 2nd most of the time. No debate. 1st goes about 30' before shifting into 2nd.

 

If you use the paddle shifters and come to a stop without downshifting, the transmission will automatically start up in 2nd gear 100% of the time unless you specifically downshift with the paddles into first gear. I would assume in drive or sport the tranny does the same thing unless under very heavy throttle which would kick in first gear.

 

There is a video I took at the time in post 18 of this thread so I know for certain mine does. No assumptions necessary. There is also another video earlier in that thread where you can count the gear changes. The SDD video is the best proof though.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...r-stop-144987/

Perhaps you would like to do the same with yours to confirm that yours is different?

 

Yup, no debate there, mine does that a well.
If you look at the thread I linked to above you will see that other 5L owners have confirmed that theirs pull away in 1st in D as well. The best way to confirm it though, is as I did, monitor it with SDD. I don't own a 5L so am happy to be proven wrong but my 4.2L definitely does.