2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER sport mode

3-92 Features and controls
3Automatic transaxle
(if so equipped)
N00513200173
Designed for the most efficient control and equipped with self-
adapting capabilities, the electronically controlled transaxle
used in your vehicle selects the most favorable gear for each
type of driving and road condition.DRIVING UPHILLThe transaxle may not shift to a higher gear if the computer
determines your current speed would be affected.
For smoother operation, the transaxle may not shift if you
release the throttle while climbing a steep hill. This is normal
because the computer controls the shifting. After reaching the
top of the hill, your normal gear shift function will resume.DRIVING DOWNHILLWhen traveling down steep grades and using the brakes, the
computer may automatically select a lower gear. This helps
engine braking efforts, reducing your need to use the brakes.
NOTE
During the break-in period or immediately after recon-
necting the battery, your vehicle may not shift smoothly.
This does not indicate a problem in the transaxle. Shifting
will become smoother once the transaxle has been shifted
several times by the electronic control system.
CAUTION
!
The electronically controlled transaxle system is
strictly intended to provide supplementary func-
tions. When driving downhill under certain condi-
tions, when the automatic transaxle is cold
immediately after starting, no automatic downshift
may be made. The driver should move the selector
lever to use sports mode to downshift a lower gear.
This will permit the engine to begin braking.
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Features and controls
3-93
3
Selector lever operation
N00513800296
As an additional safety precaution, models equipped with an
automatic transaxle have a shift-lock device that holds the
selector lever in the “P” (PARK) position. To move the selector
lever from the “P” (PARK) position to another position, follow
the steps below.
1. Press and hold the brake pedal down.
2. Move the selector lever to the desired position.NOTE
The selector lever cannot be moved from “P” (PARK) to
another position if the ignition switch is set to the
“LOCK” or “ACC” position, or if the key has been
removed, or if the brake pedal is not pressed and held
down.The transaxle has 6 forward gears and 1 reverse gear.
The individual gears are selected automatically, depending on
the position of the gear selector lever, the speed of the vehicle
and the position of the accelerator pedal.
The selector lever (A) has “2 gates”: The main gate (B) and the
manual gate (C).
NOTE
There are 4 selector lever positions in the main gate.

For information on manual gate operation, please refer to
“Sports mode” on page 3-98.
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3-98 Features and controls
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.NOTE
For information on manual gate operation, please refer to
“Sports mode” on page 3-98.
Sports mode
N00514400358
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion, sports mode is
selected by gently pushing the selector lever from the “D”
(DRIVE) position into the manual gate. To return to “D” opera-
tion, gently push the selector lever back into the main gate.
In sports mode, rapid gear shifting is possible simply by oper-
ating the selector lever or sportronic steering wheel paddle
shifter.
Unlike the manual transaxle, sports mode allows gear shifts
with the accelerator pedal depressed.NOTE
For vehicles equipped with the sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter, sports mode can be selected by shifting
gears even when the selector lever is in the main gate (2).
Also, you can return to the “D” operation in any of fol-
lowing ways.
When returning to “D” operation, the selector lever posi-
tion display will change to “D” (DRIVE) position.
• Pull the + (SHIFT UP) side sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter forward (toward the driver) for over 2 sec-
onds.
• Stop the vehicle
• Push the selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position
into the manual gate (A) and push the selector lever
back into the main gate (B).

To prevent the vehicle from rolling when stopped on
a slope, the engine should be started in the “P”
(PARK) position, not in “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal when the
vehicle is in “N” (NEUTRAL) position, or when
shifting into or out of “N” (NEUTRAL) position, to
prevent rolling.
CAUTION
!
Never shift into the “D” (DRIVE) position from the
“R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in
motion to avoid a transaxle damage.
WA R N I N G
!
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Features and controls
3-99
3
NOTE
Gears can only be selected in a forward direction from 1st
gear to 6th gear. To reverse or park the vehicle, move the
selector lever to the “R” or “P” position.

To maintain good running performance, the transaxle may
refuse to perform an upshift when the selector lever is
moved to the “+ (SHIFT UP)” position at certain vehicle
speeds. Also, to prevent over-revving of the engine, the
transaxle may refuse to perform a downshift when the
lever is moved to the “- (SHIFT DOWN)” position at cer-
tain vehicle speeds. When this happens, a buzzer sounds
to indicate that a downshift is not going to take place.

When pulling away from a standstill on a slippery road,
push the selector lever forward to the + (SHIFT UP) posi-
tion to select 2nd gear. Push the selector lever to the -
(SHIFT DOWN) side to shift back to 1st gear.
+ (SHIFT UP)
The transaxle shifts up by one gear with each operation.
- (SHIFT DOWN)
The transaxle shifts down by one gear with each operation.
CAUTION
!
Upward shifts do not take place automatically in
sports mode. The driver must make upward shifts in
accordance with prevailing road conditions, making
sure the engine revolutions remain below the red
zone on the tachometer.
Repeated continuous operation of the selector lever
or the sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter will
continuously switch shift position.SHIFT
DOWNSHIFT
DOWN
SHIFT
UP SHIFT
UP

On vehicles with a sportronic steering wheel paddle
shifter, gears may not change when the lateral pad-
dle shifters are operated at the same time.
CAUTION
!
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3-100 Features and controls
3
Sports mode display
N00538800167
In sports mode, the currently selected gear is displayed on the
information screen in the multi-information display.NOTE
While driving in sports mode, the sports mode display
may change to show “D” and shifting in sports mode may
no longer be possible.
This indicates that controls to drive in the “D” position are
operating normally in order to lower the temperature of
the automatic transaxle fluid; it does not indicate a mal-
function. Once the temperature of the automatic transaxle
fluid drops, shifting in the sports mode will be possible
again.
Operation of the automatic transaxle
N00514500320
Type 1 Type 2
CAUTION
!
Before selecting a gear with the engine running and
the vehicle stationary, firmly depress the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as soon as the gear is
engaged, especially when the engine speed or idle
speed is high, or with the air conditioning operating.
Do not release the brake pedal until you are ready to
drive away.
Depress the brake pedal with the right foot at all
times.
Using the left foot could cause driver movement
delay in case of an emergency.
To prevent sudden acceleration, never run the
engine at high rpms when shifting from the “P”
(PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL).
Operating the accelerator pedal while the other foot
is resting on the brake pedal will affect braking effi-
ciency and may cause premature wear of brake
pads.
Use the selector lever in the correct shift position in
accordance with driving conditions.
Never coast downhill backward in the driving shift
position {“D” (DRIVE) or sports mode} or coast for-
ward in the “R” (REVERSE) position.
Engine stopping and increased brake pedal and
steering effort could lead to an accident.
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Features and controls
3-101
3
Passing accelerationTo gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE) position (when
passing another vehicle) push the accelerator to the floor. The
automatic transaxle will automatically downshift.NOTE
In sports mode, downshifts do not take place when the
accelerator is depressed all the way to the floor.WaitingFor short waiting periods, such as at traffic lights, the vehicle
can be left in gear and held stationary with the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the engine running, place the
selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position and apply the
parking brake, while holding the vehicle stationary with the
service brake.
Prior to moving off after having stopped the vehicle, make sure
that the selector lever is in “D” (DRIVE) position or Sports
mode position.

Do not rev the engine with the brake pedal pressed
when the vehicle is stationary.
This can damage the transaxle.
Also, when you depress the accelerator pedal while
holding down the brake pedal with the selector lever
in the “D” (DRIVE) position, the engine revolutions
may not rise as high as when performing the same
operation with the selector lever in the “N” (NEU-
TRAL) position.
CAUTION
!
CAUTION
!
To avoid transaxle overheating, never try to keep
your vehicle stationary on a hill by using the acceler-
ator pedal. Always apply the parking brake and/or
service brake.
Do not rev the engine unnecessarily while the vehicle
is stationary. Unexpected acceleration may occur if
the selector lever is in a position other than “P”
(PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL).
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Features and controls
3-103
3
Selector lever operation
N00560300022
As an additional safety precaution, models equipped with a
continuously variable transmission have a shift-lock device
that holds the selector lever in the “P” (PARK) position. To
move the selector lever from the “P” (PARK) position to
another position, follow the steps below.
1. Press and hold the brake pedal down.
2. Move the selector lever to the desired position.NOTE
The selector lever cannot be moved from “P” (PARK) to
another position if the ignition switch is set to the
“LOCK” or “ACC” position, or if the key has been
removed, or if the brake pedal is not pressed and held
down.The CVT selects an optimum ratio automatically when the
selector lever is in the “D” (DRIVE) position, depending on the
speed of the vehicle and the position of the accelerator pedal.
The selector lever (A) has 2 gates; the main gate (B) and the
manual gate (C).
NOTE
There are 4 selector lever positions in the main gate.

For information on manual gate operation, please refer to
“Sports mode” on page 3-98.
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3-108 Features and controls
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.NOTE
For information on manual gate operation, please refer to
“Sports mode” on page 3-98.
Sports mode
N00560700039
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion, sports mode is
selected by pushing the selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE)
position into the manual gate (1). To return to “D” (DRIVE)
operation, push the selector lever back into the main gate (2).
In sports mode, rapid shifting is possible simply by operating
the selector lever or sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter.
Unlike the manual transaxle, sports mode allows shifting with
the accelerator pedal depressed.NOTE
For vehicles equipped with the sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter, sports mode can be operated even when the
selector lever is in the main gate (2). Also, you can return
to the “D” operation in any of following ways. When
returning to “D” operation, the selector lever position dis-
play will change to “D” (DRIVE) position.
• Pull the + (SHIFT UP) side sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter forward (toward the driver) for over 2 sec-
onds.
• Stop the vehicle
• Push the selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position
into the manual gate (A) and push the selector lever
back into the main gate (B).

To prevent the vehicle from rolling when stopped on
a slope, the engine should be started in the “P”
(PARK) position, not in “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal when the
vehicle is in “N” (NEUTRAL) position, or when
shifting into or out of “N” (NEUTRAL) position, to
prevent rolling.
CAUTION
!
Never shift into the “D” (DRIVE) position from the
“R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in
motion to avoid a transmission damage.
WA R N I N G
!
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