
03 Your driving environment
 Gearboxes
03
123
Geartronic – Manual gear positions (+/-)The driver can also change gear manually
using the Geartronic automatic gearbox. The
car engine-brakes when the accelerator pedal
is released.
Manual gearshift mode is obtained by moving
the lever to the side from D position to the end
position at +/–. The information display shifts
the indication from 
D to one of the figures 1 –6, which is equivalent to the gear that is
engaged just then, see page 71.
•Move the lever forwards towards + (plus)
to change up a gear and release the lever,
which returns to its rest position between
+ and –.
or
•Pull the lever back towards – (minus) to
change down a gear and release it.
The manual gearshift mode (+/–) can be
selected at any time while driving.
Geartronic automatically shifts down if the
driver allows the speed to decrease lower than
a level suitable for the selected gear, in order
to avoid jerking and stalling.
To return to automatic driving mode:
•Move the lever to the side to the end posi-
tion at D.
NOTE
f the gearbox has a Sport programme then
the gearbox will only become manual after
the lever has been moved forwards or back-
wards in its (-+/–) position. The information
display then shifts the indication from 
S to
show which of the gears 1-6 is engaged.
Geartronic - Sport mode (S)2
The Sport programme provides sportier cha-
racteristics and allows higher engine speed for
the gears. At the same time it responds more
quickly to acceleration. During active driving,
the use of a lower gear is prioritised, leading to
a delayed upshift.
Sport mode is obtained by moving the lever to
the side from D position to the end position at
+/–. The information display shifts the indica-
tion from 
D to S.
Sport mode can be selected at any time while
driving.
Geartronic - Winter modeIt can be easier to pull away on slippery roads
if 3rd gear is engaged manually.
1. Depress the brake pedal and move the
gear lever from D position to the end posi-tion at +/– - the instrument panel display
shifts the indication from 
D to the figure 1.
2. Scroll up to gear 3 by pushing the lever
forward towards + (plus) twice - the display
shifts the indication from 
1 to 3.
3. Release the brake and accelerate carefully.
The gearbox "winter mode" means that the car
moves off with a lower engine speed and
reduced engine power on the drive wheels.
Kick-downWhen the accelerator pedal is pressed all the
way to the floor (beyond the position normally
regarded as full acceleration) a lower gear is
immediately engaged. This is known as kick-
down.
If the accelerator is released from the kick-
down position, the gearbox automatically
changes up.
Kick-down is used when maximum accelera-
tion is needed, such as for overtaking.
Safety functionTo prevent overrevving the engine, the gearbox
control program has a protective downshift
inhibitor which prevents the kick-down func-
tion.
2Only models D5 and T6.
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03 Your driving environment
 Gearboxes
03
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.125 Automatic gearbox Powershift*
D: Automatic gear positions. +/–: Manual gear
positions.
Powershift is a 6-stage automatic gearbox that
has double mechanical clutch discs in contrast
to a conventional automatic gearbox. A con-
ventional automatic gearbox has a hydraulic
torque converter instead that transfers power
from engine to gearbox.
Powershift transmission operates in the same
way and has similar controls and functions as
the Geartronic automatic transmission, descri-
bed in the previous section.
Powershift or Geartronic?In the event of uncertainty as to whether or not
the car is equipped with Powershift transmis-sion, this can be verified by checking the des-
ignation on the transmission's label under the
bonnet - see page 370. The designa-
tion ”MPS6” means that it is Powershift – trans-
mission otherwise it is Geartronic automatic
transmission.
HSAThe HSA (Hill Start Assist) function means that
the pressure in the brake system remains for
several seconds while the foot is moved from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal before
setting off or reversing uphill.
The temporary braking effect releases after
several seconds or when the driver acceler-
ates.
To bear in mindThe transmission's double clutch has overload
protection that is activated if it becomes too
hot, e.g. if the car is held stationary with the
accelerator pedal on an uphill gradient for a
long time.
Overheated transmission causes the car to
shake and vibrate, and the warning symbol illu-
minates and the information display shows a
message. The transmission can also overheat
during slow driving in queues (10 km/h orslower) on an uphill gradient, or with a trailer
hitched. The transmission cools down when
the car is stationary, with foot brake depressed
and the engine running at idling speed.
Overheating during slow driving in queues can
be avoided by driving in stages: Stop the car
and wait with your foot on the brake pedal until
there is a moderate distance to the traffic
ahead, drive forward a short distance, and then
wait another moment with your foot on the
brake pedal.
IMPORTANT
Use the foot brake to hold the car stationary
on an uphill gradient - do not hold the car
with the accelerator pedal. The gearbox
could then overheat.
For important information regarding Powershift
transmission and towing - see page 304.
Text message and actionIn some situations the display may show a
message at the same time as a symbol is illu-
minated.
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