4
OPERATING MODES
The gearbox can work in two operating
modes:
❒the first manual type (MANUAL), in
which the driver decides directly when
to change gear;
❒the second completely automatic (AU-
TO), in which the system decides when
to make the gear change. It is possible
to use the ECOfunction (Economy)
with this logic which reduces con-
sumption. To activate this function,
press button E-fig. 3on the gear trim.
The selection of the gear and the oper-
ating mode (MANUAL or AUTO) is
made using control lever A-fig. 1in the
centre console.
fig. 3F0H0732m
With the car stationary and the key ex-
tracted the lever can be moved
with/without the brake pedal pressed. The
system does not carry out any action af-
ter the lever has been moved and remains
in the gear memorized before the key was
removed.
IMPORTANT With the engine started,
any mistake between the lever position
and the gear actually engaged is signalled
by a buzzer until consistency is restored.
CONTROL LEVER
The control lever A-fig. 1, located in the
dashboard, is the multistable floating type,
in other words it has three stable and
three unstable positions.
The three stable positions correspond to
neutral (N), reverse (R) and the middle
position between the unstable positions
(+) and (–) fig. 1.
The unstable positions, in other words
those that are abandoned as soon as the
lever is released, are the position request-
ing a higher gear (+), the position request-
ing a lower gear (–) and the automatic op-
erating mode request position (A/M).
The return to manual mode takes place
by returning the lever to position (A/M)
fig. 3.
603_97_015 IDEA DUAL GB 1e 4-02-2009 16:25 Pagina 4
9
PARKING THE CAR
To park safely it is vital to engage 1st gear
or reverse (R), with your foot on the
brake pedal and, if the road is on a gradi-
ent, to operate the handbrake; it is also vi-
tal to wait for the display of the gear en-
gaged to disappear from the reconfig-
urable multifunction display before re-
leasing the brake pedal.
IMPORTANT NEVERleave the car with
the gearbox in neutral (N).GENERAL WARNINGS
❒With the car stationary and a gear en-
gaged, always keep the brake pedal
pressed until you decide to set off, then
release the brake and accelerate gently;
❒during prolonged stops with the engine
running, it is advisable to keep the gear-
box in neutral (N);
❒in order to safeguard the efficiency of
the clutch, do not use the accelerator
to keep the car stationary (e.g. when
stopped on an incline); if the clutch
overheats it could damage it, use the
brake pedal and only use the accelera-
tor pedal when you decide to set off;
❒only use second gear when you need
greater control at take off for ma-
noeuvres on surfaces with poor grip;
❒if, with reverse gear (R) engaged, you
need to engage first gear or vice ver-
sa, only do this when the car is com-
pletely stationary and with the brake
pedal pressed;
❒although it is strongly discouraged, if
you are going downhill and for un-
known reasons you let the car move
forward with the gearbox in neutral
(N), when there is a request to engage
a gear the system will automatically en-
gage the best gear in relation to the
speed of the actual to allow the correct
transmission of the drive torque to the
wheels;
❒when necessary, with the engine
switched off it is possible to engage 1st
gear or reverse (R) with the ignition in
the MARposition and the brake
pressed. In this case, gear shifts must be
made allowing at least 5 minutes to
elapse between one gear shift and the
next to safeguard the operation of the
hydraulic system and the pump in par-
ticular;
❒fully depressing the accelerator pedal
quickly and turning the ASR button in
the dashboard, if present, off, activates
a “lively” departure;
❒for departures on a hill, accelerating
gently but fully straight after having re-
leased the handbrake or the brake ped-
al allows the engine to greatly increase
the number of revs and tackle the
steepest gradients with more torque at
the wheels.
603_97_015 IDEA DUAL GB 1e 4-02-2009 16:25 Pagina 9