What are the must-have performance accessories for a Jaguar XKR?

Question

So I finally got my 2010 XKR and honestly I am so frustrated with how it feels right now. Everyone said these cars were rocket ships but mine feels heavy and the throttle response is just pathetic for a supercharged V8.

My logic was that the 5.0 would be enough but it feels like there is this huge delay every time I step on it and I’m just about done with the stock setup. I was looking at supercharger pulleys because obviously more boost is better right? But then I started reading about heat soak and now I’m stuck wondering if I need a better intercooler pump first because the car just bogs down after twenty minutes of driving in the heat here in Florida.

I’ve got about 2500 bucks saved up to fix this mess and I need to get it sorted before a club meet next month but I dont want to just throw money at it and get zero results. Is it the exhaust? A tune? I heard some guys say a TCU flash is the only way to fix the shifting but I dont even know where to start. It’s just so annoying because the car looks fast but it doesnt feel fast yet...

JamesBeem · Accepted Answer

Just saw this thread and honestly... hold up on the pulley for a sec. If youre down in Florida, more boost is just gonna bake that engine way faster. Heat soak is the real enemy of the 5.0. I would suggest playing it safe and upgrading your cooling before anything else so the car actually keeps the power it already has. The stock pump is pretty notorious for being weak and failing quietly. I'd look into getting the EuroTek Designs Jaguar XKR High Flow Intercooler Pump. It moves way more fluid than the factory unit. Pair that with a Forge Motorsport Jaguar XKR Upgraded Chargecooler Radiator if you can fit it in the budget. Basically, you want to make sure the car isnt pulling timing because its too hot. If the ECU sees high intake temps, it kills the fun to protect the motor. TL;DR: Cooling first, power second. In FL heat, a pulley without a better pump is just asking for trouble.

lpferewkds · Answer

Honestly, everyone looks at the engine but they forget about the transmission and the sheer weight of the factory setup. I spent years chasing that snappy feel in my own 2010 and realized the engine was actually fine, it was just the gearbox holding it back. The ZF unit in these cars is built for comfort, so it always wants to shift early and hesitates on downshifts when you floor it. You really need to look into a transmission tune. Getting a Viezu Jaguar XKR TCU Transmission Tune changed everything for me. It makes the shifts way sharper and keeps you in the power band instead of hunting for gears. Also, you mentioned the car feels heavy. Its a big grand tourer, but a set of Spires Jaguar XKR Performance Lowering Springs fixes that wallowy feeling immediately. It lowers the center of gravity and actually lets you feel what the front tires are doing through the corners. If you still have the stock wheels, keep in mind those things are basically boat anchors... unsprung weight is a killer. Lastly, check your intake. The stock boxes are pretty restrictive for a 5.0 supercharged motor. I threw on the Mina Gallery Jaguar XKR Performance Intake Kit and it definitely helped the engine breathe better without adding the heat issues you get from a smaller pulley. Stick to the basics before you go chasing boost numbers in that Florida humidity or youll just be frustrated.

fkvdzokmis · Answer

ngl i had the same lag. you should look at a VelocityAP Jaguar 5.0 ECU Tune and Pulley Kit first. it gives you the biggest power jump, but it makes the heat soak worse in FL. a cheaper fix for that laggy feel is a Pedal Commander PC31 Throttle Response Controller which is easy to install, tho it doesnt add actual horsepower. the tune is better value for actual speed imo.