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Features and controls
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3
“D” DRIVEThis position is used for most city and highway driving. Engine
shifting and braking are done automatically as needed, depend-
ing on road conditions.NOTEFor information on manual shift gate operation, please
refer to “Manual shift” on page 3-116.
When the engine is cold, upshifts occur at a higher vehicle
speed than when the engine is warm.
This control is performed to quickly warm up the engine.
It does not indicate a malfunction. After the vehicle has
been driven for a while, upshifts will occur at the regular
engine speeds.
Twin Clutch SST control mode
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Select the control mode from the following two types to suit
the driving conditions.
CAUTION
!Never shift into the “D” (DRIVE) position from the
“R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in
motion.
If the lever is shifted into the “D” (DRIVE) from the
“R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in
motion, the transmission may be damaged.
Twin Clutch
SST control
mode
Characteristic
Normal
(Control mode
when engine is
started)Control mode for normal driving on local
roads, freeways, and the like.
Smooth shifting is performed at low engine
speeds for economical driving with good ride
quality.
SportControl mode for driving on mountain roads,
roads with uphill and downhill slopes, and
freeways with long downhill slopes where
engine braking is necessary.
Compared to “Normal” mode, shifting occurs
at higher engine speeds and is quicker. In
addition, quick downshifting is possible when
the accelerator pedal is depressed for quick
acceleration or when the brakes are applied.
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3-114 Features and controls
3
NOTEWhen continuously driving on closed circuit tracks or at
other locations where the engine is operated at high
speeds and under a heavy load, the Twin Clutch SST fluid
temperature will have a tendency to rise.
In this case, if the temperature rises too high, the warn-
ing display will appear on the information screen in the
multi-information display to alert the driver.
If the warning display appears, be sure to refer to
“Warning display” on page 3-110 and follow the appropri-
ate measures.
The Twin Clutch SST control mode can be selected both
when “D” range operation is selected and when manual
shifting is selected.
If you select “Sport” mode while the engine is cold, the
transmission may shift up at different speeds compared to
that when the engine is warm.
This is simply the operation of the control system to warm
the engine quickly. It does not indicate a malfunction.
For slippery road surfaces, such as roads with accumu-
lated snow, “Normal” mode is recommended for smooth
shifting at low engine speeds.
Twin Clutch SST control mode switch
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When the ignition switch is set to the “ON” position, operate
the Twin Clutch SST control mode switch (A) to change the
control mode.
When the engine is started, the control mode is automatically
set to the “Normal” mode. Use the following procedures to
change the control mode.
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Features and controls
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3
To shift from “Normal” mode to “Sport” mode
While the vehicle is stopped or being driven, push the Twin
Clutch SST control mode switch forward.
To shift from “Sport” mode to “Normal” mode
While the vehicle is stopped or being driven, push the Twin
Clutch SST control mode switch rearward.NOTEIf the Twin Clutch SST control mode switch is continu-
ously pressed after a control mode has been selected, an
erroneous operation prevention function operates and the
control mode is automatically set to the “Normal” mode.
If you would like to select a control mode again, return the
ignition switch to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position and
restart the engine. Then, push the Twin Clutch SST con-
trol mode switch.
Twin Clutch SST control mode display
N00540400043
When the ignition switch is set to the “ON” position, the cur-
rently selected control mode is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display.
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3-116 Features and controls
3
Manual shift
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Using the gearshift lever (A) or the sportronic steering wheel
shifters (B), shifting can be performed manually.
Shifting can be performed even while the accelerator pedal is
depressed.
This allows the driver to enjoy sporty driving, such as quick
cornering, by nimbly downshifting to reduce vehicle speed just
before entering a curve.
CAUTION
!When manually shifting while the vehicle is being
driven, select the correct shift position to control the
engine speed so that the tachometer indicator does
not enter the red zone.Sudden engine braking and rapid acceleration can
cause the vehicle to skid. Shift down according to
road conditions and vehicle speed.If both the left and right sportronic steering wheel
shifters are operated at the same time, the transmis-
sion may not change gears.
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Features and controls
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3
NOTEOnly the forward gears 1 to 6 can be selected.
To reverse or park, place the gearshift lever in the “R”
(REVERSE) or “P” (PARK) position.
During manual shifting, downshifting will be performed
automatically when the vehicle slows down and the trans-
mission will downshift to 1st gear before the vehicle
stops.
If the gearshift lever or sportronic steering wheel shifters
are operated repeatedly, the transmission will also shift
repeatedly.
In order to ensure driving performance, upshifting may
not occur depending on the vehicle speed even if the gear-
shift lever or sportronic steering wheel shifters are oper-
ated. In addition, in order to prevent excessive engine
speed, the buzzer sounds and downshifting may not occur
depending on the vehicle speed even if the gearshift lever
or sportronic steering wheel shifters are operated.
When driving in an aggressive manner involving high
engine rpm, sudden acceleration and/or deceleration, the
Twin Clutch SST could take longer to shift due to higher
fluid temperatures.
Shifting using the gearshift lever
N00540600029
Selecting manual shifting
While the vehicle is stopped or being driven, move the gear-
shift lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position in the main shift
gate toward the driver’s seat to select manual shifting.
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3-118 Features and controls
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Shifting up and shifting down
Each time the gearshift lever is pulled rearward, the transmis-
sion shifts up 1 gear.
In addition, each time the gearshift lever is pushed forward, the
transmission shifts down 1 gear.NOTEAfter manual shifting is selected using the gearshift lever,
shifting up and down can also be performed using the
sportronic steering wheel shifters.Returning to “D” range operation
Move the gearshift lever toward the front passenger’s seat to
return to automated shifting.
NOTEWhen the gearshift lever is moved to the “D” (DRIVE)
position from the manual shift gate, it may automatically
select a gear different from the gear selected during man-
ual shifting depending on vehicle speed or driving condi-
tions.
SHIFT DOWN
SHIFT UP
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Features and controls
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Shifting using the sportronic steering wheel shifters
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Selecting manual shifting
While the vehicle is stopped or being driven with the gearshift
lever in the “D” (DRIVE) position, manual shifting can be
selected by pulling one of the sportronic steering wheel shifters
toward you.Shifting up
Each time the + (SHIFT UP) sportronic steering wheel shifter
is pulled, the transmission shifts up 1 gear.- (SHIFT DOWN) + (SHIFT UP)
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3-120 Features and controls
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Shifting down
Each time the - (SHIFT DOWN) sportronic steering wheel
shifter is pulled, the transmission shifts down 1 gear.NOTEAfter manual shifting is selected using the sportronic
steering wheel shifters, shifting up and down can also be
performed using the gearshift lever.Returning to “D” range operation
When the gearshift lever is in the “D” (DRIVE) position, pull
the + (SHIFT UP) sportronic steering wheel shifter toward you
for 2 seconds or more to return to “D” range operation.
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