To operate in DRIVE (D) (Automatic mode):
•Press and hold the brake pedal.
• Move the shift lever to the DRIVE (D) position.
NOTE: If the vehicle is moving, DRIVE engagement will
only occur if the vehicle speed is less than 2 mph
(3 km/h). Otherwise, a chime will sound, the transmis-
sion will shift to NEUTRAL, and the DRIVE request must
then be repeated by returning the lever to NEUTRAL and
then back into DRIVE once the speed has been suffi-
ciently reduced.
• To drive, release the brake pedal and press the accel-
erator pedal.
When in DRIVE (D) the transmission will shift gears
automatically, the Automated Manual Transmission uses a geartrain and clutch similar to a other manual trans-
missions. Therefore, you should become familiar with
some of the normal operational characteristics of the
Automated Manual Transmission:
•
Engine torque will be interrupted briefly during the
transmission upshifts, making these shifts more abrupt
than with a typical automatic transmission. This is
normal.
• Although transmission shifting is performed auto-
matically, the vehicle will not creepwhen the brake
pedal is released, and may in fact roll down on an
incline. Leaving from a stop, the accelerator pedal
must be pressed to transmit driving torque to the
wheels.
• In Automatic Mode, the Automated Manual Transmis-
sion adapts the gear changing strategy evaluating the
road condition such as slopes in the road.
66 STARTING AND OPERATING
•To avoid accelerated clutch wear, do not use the
accelerator to keep the vehicle at a standstill (for
example, holding on a hill); the clutch could be dam-
aged by overheating. Use the brake pedal instead and
operate the accelerator only when you are ready to
drive away.
• Only launch (from a stop) in second gear when you
need more control on surfaces with low traction.
• Only shift between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE (R) gears
when the vehicle has come to a stop and the brake
pedal is pressed. •
Although very inadvisable, if the vehicle is unexpect-
edly allowed to roll downhill with the gearbox in
NEUTRAL (N) the system will automatically engage
the gear best suited to vehicle speed when a gear shift
is requested to allow drive to be correctly transmitted
to the wheels.
• If necessary, with the engine off, it is possible to engage
1st, REVERSE (R) or NEUTRAL (N) with the key in
ON/RUN/MAR position and the brake pressed.
• During hill starts, accelerate immediately after releas-
ing the parking brake or brake pedal to allow the
engine to increase its rpm to a greater extent and
overcome higher gradients with more torque.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 71
