2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG ROADSTER sport mode

A
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it.
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. The transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
position Nif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads. 7
Drive
The transmission shifts into drive
programs (C/S/S+) automatically.
All forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The transmission shifts into individual gears
automatically. This is determined by:
R drive position D
R the selected drive program (C/S /S+)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed
R a shift range restriction, if selected
The shift points primarily depend on:
R the position of the accelerator pedal
Little throttle: early upshifts; high throttle:
late upshifts
R the driving dynamics
A dynamic driving style with high
longitudinal and lateral acceleration delays
the shift points to higher engine speeds. Driving tips
Double-clutch function When shifting down, the double-clutch
function is active regardless of the currently
selected drive program. The double-clutch function reduces the load change reaction on
the drive axle. The sound generated by the
double-clutch function and its characteristics
depend on the drive program selected.
Kickdown
i
Kickdown is not available in manual drive
program M.
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X In the automatic drive programs, depress
the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure
point.
Depending on the selected drive program,
the transmission shifts to the lowest gear
permissible to give optimal acceleration. Drive program selector
With the drive program selector switch, you
can choose from a range of different
transmission configurations or select the
RACE START drive mode. Drive
program Characteristic
C
Controlled
Efficiency Comfort-oriented,
optimum-economy engine
and transmission settings S
Sport Sporty engine and
transmission settings
S+
SportPlus Extremely sporty engine
and transmission settings 124
AMG SPEE
DSHIFT DCT 7-speed spor ts transmissionDriving and parking

Drive
program Characteristic
M
Manual Manual gear shifting
Driving mode
RS
RACE
START Optimal vehicle
acceleration from a
standstill
X
Turn drive program selector switch :until
the desired drive program is shown in the
multifunction display.
i In addition to the drive program being
shown in the multifunction display, the
currently selected drive program is
indicated in red on the drive program
selector switch.
i RScannot be selected during normal
driving. For further information on RACE
START, see (Y page 125). Steering wheel paddle shifters
In transmission position D, you can use the
steering wheel paddle shifters to restrict or
derestrict the transmission shift range. One
of the automatic drive programs C,Sand S
+ must be selected in order to do so.
In manual drive program M, you need to
change gear yourself using the steering wheel
paddle shifters. The transmission shifts down
automatically at low engine speeds.
i In manual drive program M, the
transmission shift and response times are
significantly shorter with sportier and more
aggressive gear changes. :
Left steering wheel paddle shifter
(DOWN): shift down/restrict shift range
; Right steering wheel paddle shifter (UP):
shift up/derestrict shift range RACE START
RACE START enables optimal acceleration
from a standing start under suitable high-grip
road surface conditions.
RACE START is intended solely for activation
on dedicated race circuits.
Conditions for activation You can activate RACE START if:
R
the doors are closed.
R the engine is running and the engine and
transmission are at operating temperature.
(Y page 161)
R SPORT handling mode is switched on.
(Y page 56)
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot).
R the transmission is set to D. AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission
125Driving and parking Z

Activating RACE START
X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Turn the drive program selector switch
clockwise (Y page 124) until the RS
indicator on the switch lights up in red.
The multifunction display shows the
message RACE START
RACE START Confirm: Paddle Confirm: Paddle
UP
UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN
Cancel: Paddle DOWN.
i If the conditions for activation are not
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The
RACE START Not Possible
RACE START Not Possible message
appears in the multifunction display.
X To cancel: pull the left-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (DOWN) (Y page 125).
The multifunction display shows the RACE
RACE
START Canceled START Canceled message.
X To confirm: pull the right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter (UP) ( Ypage 125).
The RACE START Available Depress
RACE START Available Depress
gas pedal
gas pedal message appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within a few seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled message.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed is increased.
The RACE START Release brake to
RACE START Release brake to
start start message appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within a few seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled message.
X Take your foot off the brake pedal while
keeping the accelerator pedal fully
depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The RACE
RACE START START Active
Active message appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 30 mph (50 km/h). Drive program
S+is activated.
SPORT handling mode remains switched on.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation
conditions are no longer fulfilled. The RACE
RACE
START Not Possible START Not Possible orRACE START
RACE START
Canceled
Canceled message appears in the
multifunction display.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly within
a short period of time, it is only available
again after the vehicle has been driven a
certain distance. Automatic drive program
Drive program Cis characterized by the
following:
R comfort-oriented engine and transmission
settings
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the transmission shifting up sooner
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully
R increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example
R the transmission shifting up sooner; This
results in the vehicle being driven at lower
engine speeds and the wheels being less
likely to spin
Drive programs Sand S+are characterized
by the following:
R sporty engine and transmission settings
R the transmission shifting up later and
shifting down dynamically
R as a result of the later transmission
upshifts, the fuel consumption may be
higher
R if a period of dynamic driving is followed by
an extended phase with a constant
accelerator pedal position, the vehicle 126
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports trans
missionDriving and parking

Making adjustments in 1 mph
increments
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up :for a higher speed or
down ;for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Making adjustments in 10 mph
increments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
beyond the pressure point, up :for a
higher speed or down ;for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards =.
or
X Brake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
R you press the electric parking brake
handle.
R you are driving below 20 mph (30 km/h).
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R you shift the transmission to Nwhile the
vehicle is in motion.
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear
a warning tone. The "Cruise Control Off Cruise Control Off"
message is displayed in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine. AMG adaptive sport suspension
system
General notes The electronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection of Sport, Sport +
or Comfort
If you select Comfort or Sport + mode and
restart the engine, the mode reverts to Sport.
i GT model: you can only choose between
Sport and Sport + modes. If you select
Sport + mode and restart the engine, the
mode reverts to Sport. Sport mode
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
X
Press button :once.
Indicator lamp ?lights up. You have
selected Sport mode.
The AMG Ride Control SPORT AMG Ride Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
i GT model: Sport mode is the standard
setting. Indicator lamp ?cannot be
switched off. 140
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Sport + mode
The very firm setting of the suspension tuning
in Sport + mode ensures the best possible
contact with the road. Select this mode only
when driving on race circuits.
If indicator lamps =and ?are off:
X Press button :twice.
Indicator lamps =and ?light up. You
have selected Sport + mode.
The AMG
AMG Ride Ride Control
Control SPORT +
SPORT +message
appears in the multifunction display.
If indicator lamp ?lights up:
X Press button :once.
Second indicator lamp =lights up. You
have selected Sport + mode.
The AMG
AMG Ride Ride Control
Control SPORT +
SPORT +message
appears in the multifunction display.
Comfort mode i
GT model: Comfort mode is unavailable.
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you favor a more comfortable
driving style, but also when driving fast on
straight roads, e.g. freeways.
X Press button :repeatedly until indicator
lamps =and ?go out.
You have selected Comfort mode.
The AMG Ride Control COMFORT AMG Ride Control COMFORT
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Storing and calling up settings Once the suspension tuning and drive
program have been selected, you can store
and call up your settings using AMG
button ;.
X To store: press AMG button ;until you
hear a tone. X
To call up: press AMG button ;.
The stored suspension tuning and drive
program are selected.
X To display: briefly press AMG button ;.
Your selection appears in the multifunction
display. PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a
replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking
and exiting a parking space. When
maneuvering, parking or pulling out of a
parking space, make sure that there are no
persons, animals or objects in the area in
which you are maneuvering.
!
When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer drawbars.
PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of
the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle
or the objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, the compressed-air brakes on a
truck or a pneumatic drill could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on
uneven terrain.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
R switch on the ignition
R Release the electric parking brake. Driving systems
141Driving and parking Z

AMG menu
AMG displays X
Press =or; on the steering wheel
to select the AMG
AMGmenu. :
Digital speedometer
; Engine oil temperature
= Coolant temperature
? Transmission fluid temperature
If the engine oil temperature is below 80 †
or if the transmission fluid temperature is
below 60 †, the corresponding temperature
gauge flashes. Avoid driving at full engine
output during this time.
SETUP SETUP displays the drive program, the AMG
adaptive sport suspension system setting
and the selected traction assist.
X Press the =or; button on the
steering wheel to select the AMG
AMG menu.
X Press the 9button repeatedly until
SETUP is displayed.
or
X Vehicles without AMG Performance
Media: press the AMG button on the center
console. :
Drive program (C/S/S+/M)
; ESP ®
mode (ON ON/SPORTSPORT handling handling mode
mode/
OFF
OFF )
= AMG adaptive sport suspension system
setting (COMFORT COMFORT/SPORT SPORT/SPORT +SPORT +)
RACETIMER Displaying and starting RACETIMER
You can use the RACETIMER to store lap
times.
X
Press the =or; button on the
steering wheel to select the AMG AMGmenu.
X Press the 9button repeatedly until the
RACETIMER is shown.
i If the RACETIMER is selected, the =
and ; buttons are inoperative. :
Digital speedometer
; RACETIMER
= Lap
You can start the RACETIMER when the
engine is running or if key position 2is
selected with the Start/Stop button.
X To start: start the RACETIMER with a. Menus and sub
menus
161On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions h
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
flashes while the
vehicle is in
motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control is switched off.
X When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 56).M
The yellow
SPORT handling
mode warning
lamp is lit while
the engine is
running. SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle in extreme situations. ESP ®
intervention may not be able to provide enough assistance in such
situations, and the vehicle may start to skid.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Only switch to SPORT handling mode in accordance with the
conditions written in the "Activating/deactivating SPORT
handling mode" section (Y page 56). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
193On-board computer and displays Z