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Accelerating From A Stop
FIRST (1st) and REVERSE (R) can only be engaged (at a
stop) by pressing “1” or “R” when the brake pedal is
pressed.
To drive, press the brake pedal, and select 1 (One) or R
(Reverse) by pressing “1” or “R” using the transmission
gear selector buttons on the center console. Then release
the brake pedal and smoothly press the accelerator pedal.
NOTE:When starting on a fairly steep incline, it may be
advisable to engage the parking brake.
The vehicle can only be launched (from a stop) in FIRST
(1st) or REVERSE (R). SECOND (2nd) gear (or higher)
cannot be engaged when the vehicle is stationary.
FIRST (1st) and REVERSE (R) gears can only be engaged
at vehicle speeds below 2 mph (3 km/h). At speeds
below 6 mph (10 km/h), attempts to shift from 1st to R
(or R to 1st) will only be allowed if the vehicle speeddrops below the 2 mph (3 km/h) threshold within three
seconds of the request; otherwise, the transmission will
shift to NEUTRAL (N). The driver should then repeat the
request for 1st or R once the vehicle has come to a stop.
Shift Paddles
In MANUAL mode, the steering wheel mounted shift
paddles (labeled + and -) control the transmission shift-
ing.
Tapping the (+) paddle will upshift the transmission to
the next higher gear, while tapping the (-) paddle will
downshift to the next lower gear. The current gear is
displayed in the instrument cluster. If a requested shift
would cause engine lugging or overspeed, that request
will be ignored.
In AUTO mode, tapping a shift paddle will temporarily
place the transmission in MANUAL mode, and execute
the requested upshift or downshift (if allowable). The
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control panel (it is not necessary to press the brake pedal)
the transmission will immediately engage the correct
gear according to the car ’s speed.
If the vehicle is stationary with the engine running and
FIRST (1st) gear or REVERSE (R) engaged, the system
activates an acoustic signal and automatically places the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) when:
The accelerator and/or brake pedal are not operated for
at least three minutes.
The brake pedal is pressed for longer than 10 minutes.
The driver ’s door is opened and the accelerator pedal or
the brake pedal are not operated for at least one and a
half seconds.
A fault has been detected in the transmission.Parking The Vehicle
When parking and leaving the car, proceed as follows:
1. Press the brake pedal and shift the transmission into
First (1st).
2. Stop the engine and firmly engage the parking brake.
3. Release the brake pedal.
When parking on an incline, turn the front wheels toward
the curb on a downhill slope and away from the curb on
an uphill slope. Always chock the wheels when parking
on steep grades.
General Notes
When the vehicle is stopped and in gear, always keep the
brake pedal pressed until you decide to set off, then
release the brake and accelerate gradually.
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During prolonged stops with the engine running, it is
advisable to keep the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
When stopped on an incline, always hold the vehicle in
place using the brakes. On steep inclines, Hill Start Assist
(HSA) will temporarily hold the car in position when the
brake pedal is released. If the accelerator pedal is not
applied after a short time, the car will roll back. Either
reapply the brake (to hold the vehicle) or press the
accelerator to climb the hill.
Only shift between FIRST (1st) and REVERSE (R) when
completely stopped, with the brake pedal pressed.
When necessary, it is possible to engage FIRST (1st),
REVERSE (R) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine off, the
key at MAR-ON and the brake pressed. In this case, wait
at least five seconds between one gear change and the
next, in order to safeguard the operation of the hydraulic
system, and the pump in particular.For uphill departures, it is advisable to accelerate gradu-
ally but fully immediately after releasing the parking
brake or the brake pedal; this allows the engine to
temporarily increase the number of revs and tackle the
steepest gradients with more torque at the wheels.
ALFA DNA SYSTEM (DYNAMIC CAR CONTROL
SYSTEM)
This vehicle is equipped with a “Alfa DNA” system lever
(located on the center console). There are four modes of
operation to be selected according to driving style and
road conditions:
Dynamic (This mode alters the transmission’s automatic
shift schedule for sportier driving [D]).
Natural (mode for driving in normal conditions [N]).
All Weather (mode for driving in poor grip conditions,
such as rain and snow [A]).5
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Deactivation
To deactivate All Weather mode and return to Natural
mode, move the Alfa DNA system lever upwards (to
letter “D”) and keep it in this position for half a second.
NOTE:
When the engine is next started, All weather mode or
Natural mode will be retained when the car is restarted.
When the engine is next started, Race mode or Dynamic
mode previously selected is not retained. The system will
reactivate in Natural mode.
It is not possible to go directly from Dynamic mode to All
Weather mode and vice versa. You must always first go
back to Natural mode and then select the other mode.
System Failure
In the event of system failure or a fault with the gear
selector, no driving modes can be selected.The display will become grey (same screen asNatural
mode) but without an indication of the Alfa DNA setting.
The display will also show a warning message.
Please contact your authorized dealer for service.
Launch Control
The Launch Control strategy permits high-performance
acceleration.
This strategy can be activated with vehicle at a standstill,
Race mode selected and FIRST (1st) gear engaged.
The sequence of operations to perform is as follows:
1. Press the brake pedal and hold it down.
2. Press the accelerator pedal and hold it down.
3. Press the–paddle behind the steering wheel.
When the brake pedal is released, the car will start with
maximum acceleration. Despite the MANUAL mode, the
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vehicle will automatically shift the gear to guarantee
maximum acceleration, once the correct shifting speed
has been reached.
WARNING!
Launch Control is intended for off-highway or off-
road use only and should not be used on any public
roadways. Use Launch Control only in a controlled
and dry track environment; within the limits of the
law. Actual Launch Control performance may change
depending on the surface and current traction condi-
tions. The capabilities of the vehicle as measured by
the performance pages must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner, which can jeopardize
the user ’s safety or the safety of others. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents.
Failure to follow this warning may result in serious
injury or death.To discontinue the strategy, simply interrupt the above
sequence of operations or release the accelerator pedal.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the rear (driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear
wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and
possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to be poor traction
(ice, snow, wet mud, loose sand, etc.).
5
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Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may cause
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions should be observed:
•Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.
•Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
•Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.
•Keep tires properly inflated.
•Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate,
the amount of wheel slip across a given axle for im-
proved handling.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
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When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the front
wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away
from the curb on an uphill grade. The parking brake
should always be applied whenever the driver is not in
the vehicle.
WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
•Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the transmission gear selec-
tor.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle or
in a location accessible to children. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
•Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to brake
failure and a collision.
•Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle, or it may roll and cause damage or
injury. Also be certain to leave a manual transmis-
sion in REVERSE or FIRST (1st) gear. Failure to do
so may allow the vehicle to roll and cause damage
or injury.
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CAUTION!
If the Brake Warning Light remains on with the
parking brake released, a brake system malfunction
is indicated. Have the brake system serviced by an
authorized dealer immediately.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with dual hydraulic brake
systems. If either of the two hydraulic systems loses
normal capability, the remaining system will still func-
tion. However, there will be some loss of overall braking
effectiveness. You may notice increased pedal travel
during application, greater pedal force required to slow
or stop, and potential activation of the “Brake System
Warning Light.”In the event power assist is lost for any reason (i.e.,
repeated brake applications with the engine off) the
brakes will still function. However, the effort required to
brake the vehicle will be much greater than that required
with the power system operating.
ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL)
SYSTEM
The ESC system improves the directional control and
stability of the vehicle in various driving conditions.
The ESC system corrects the car ’s understeer and over-
steer, distributing the brake force on the appropriate
wheels. The torque supplied by the engine can also be
reduced in order to maintain control of the car.5
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