Before you guys say anything more about first gear, I invite you guys to try accelerating from a stop at a moderate pace (enough so that shift points are distinct). I believe you will find that first gear is indeed used in Drive mode!

 

It starts with second gear in automatic when also placed in winter driving mode.

 

i was looking a xjs racing video, and despite all the progress done, sometimes i think like this, the old metal body were less rigid than the alu ones, and therefor i wander if that's why we could feel more data infos through the steering wheel/column/rack, (fell more rigid to me), as of now the body is so rigid, it could dilute some of this data, and makes the steering column feel less strong as before, even if the whole characteristics and performance has increased of course, maybe i'm totally wrong...or it could also be related to the air suspension and all the security shock absorber in the column. You just need to anticipate and know the car, adding a 7 speed and shorter gears may help to make it more precise during acceleration and downshifting too. And damn more flat aera in the back seat and a few inches is what missing to make them usable, not confortable but at least usable. No need to redo the whole car I will say. I like the gt style, and you don't need or have to use all that power, even if the f type can express it better, i really prefer the xk looks more towards the jaguar classic lines.