0OFF position
1ACC position
2ON position
3START position
WARNING
Never remove the key or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position while driving. The
steering wheel will lock and could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle. This could
result in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
Use electrical accessories with the engine run-
ning to avoid discharging the vehicle battery.
If you must use accessories while the engine is
not running, do not use them for extended pe-
riods of time and do not use multiple electrical
accessories at the same time.
The switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
STEERING LOCK
To lock the steering wheel
1. Turn the key to the OFF position.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Turn the steering wheel 1/6 of a turn clock- wise from the straight up position.
To unlock the steering wheel
1. Insert the key into the ignition switch.
2. Gently turn the key while rotating the steer- ing wheel slightly right and left.
KEY POSITIONS
OFF (Normal parking position)
0
The ignition key can only be removed when in
this position.
The steering lock can only be locked in this
position.
ACC (Accessories)/1
The engine is turned off without locking the
steering wheel. This position activates electrical
accessories, such as the radio, when the engine
is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)2
This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.
START3
The engine starter activates and the engine will
start. As soon as the engine has started, release
the key immediately. It will return to the ON
position.
NPA1483
IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-15
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator. In-
stead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients by:
•Depressing the brake pedal.
•Engaging the electric parking brake.
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
•Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear de-
pending on the engine speed.
•Ease off the accelerator pedal once the de-
sired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Drive mode switch
The drive mode switch allows you to choose
between drive programs with different driving
characteristics.
Press drive mode switch
1. The selected drive
program appears in the vehicle information
display.
The automatic transmission switches to drive
program E each time the engine is started.
E (Economy): comfortable, economical driving
S (Sport): sporty driving style
M (Manual): manual gear shifting
For more details of the manual drive program
see Manual drive program later in this section.
Steering wheel gearshift paddles
1Left steering wheel gearshift paddle
(shifts down)
2Right steering wheel gearshift paddle
(shifts up)
In drive program M, you can change gear your-
self using the steering wheel gearshift paddles.
If you pull the left or right steering wheel
gearshift paddle when in automatic drive pro-
gram E or S, the automatic transmission shifts
into drive program M for a limited time. Depend-
ing on which gearshift paddle is pulled, the
automatic transmission immediately shifts into
the next gear down or up.
NSD587NSD584
Starting and driving5-21
Automatic drive programs
Drive program E is characterized by the follow-
ing:
•Comfort-oriented engine settings.
•Optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
•The vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears unless the accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully.
•Increased sensitivity. This improves handling
on slippery road surfaces, for example.
•The automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin.
Drive program S is characterized by the follow-
ing:
•Sporty engine settings.
•The automatic transmission shifting up later.
•As a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points, the fuel consumption pos-
sibly being higher.
Manual drive program
In manual drive program M, you can change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel gear-
shift paddles. For this, the transmission must
be in position D (Drive). The gear currently
selected and engaged is shown in the vehicle
information display
Manual drive program M differs from drive
programs E and S with regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Using manual gears
:
3 To use the engine’s braking effect
2 To use the braking effect of the engine on downhill gradients and for driving on steep
mountain roads, in mountainous terrain or
in arduous conditions.
1 To use the braking effect of the engine on extremely steep downhill gradients and on
long downhill stretches. Activating the manual drive program
:
•Permanently: Press the drive mode switch
1repeatedly until M appears in the vehicle
information display. Manual drive program M
remains active until drive program E or S is
engaged.
•Temporarily: Pull the right or left steering
wheel gearshift paddle (see Steering wheel
gearshift paddles later in this section).
Manual drive program M is temporarily ac-
tive. Depending on which gearshift paddle is
pulled, the automatic transmission immedi-
ately shifts into the next gear down or up.
When manual drive program M is activated via
the steering wheel gearshift paddles, the tem-
porarily active manual drive program M will be
deactivated automatically after a limited time, if
NSD587
5-22Starting and driving
the driving situation permits. The automatic
transmission switches to the previously acti-
vated drive program E or S. When driving on
downhill gradients, the temporarily active
manual drive program M will only be deacti-
vated if the accelerator pedal is depressed
while the vehicle is rolling downhill.
Upshifting
:
Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (seeSteering wheel gearshift paddles
earlier in this section). The automatic transmis-
sion shifts up to the next gear.
In order to prevent engine damage the auto-
matic transmission automatically shifts up if
the maximum engine speed on the currently
engaged gear is reached and you depress the
accelerator pedal. Gearshift recommendation
:
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the vehicle infor-
mation display.
Shift to recommended gear
1according to
gearshift recommendation
2when shown in
the vehicle information display.
Downshifiting
:
Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (see Steering wheel gearshift paddles
earlier in this section). The automatic transmis-
sion shifts down to the next gear.
If you slow down or stop without shifting down,
the automatic transmission automatically shifts
down. For maximum acceleration, pull the left-hand
steering wheel gearshift paddle until the trans-
mission selects the optimum gear for the cur-
rent speed.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic trans-
mission protects against engine damage by not
shifting down.
Kickdown
:
You can also use kickdown for maximum accel-
eration in manual drive program M
•Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point The transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
•Shift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
During kickdown, you cannot shift gears using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles.
If you apply full throttle, the automatic trans-
mission shifts up to the next gear when the
maximum engine speed is reached. This pre-
vents the engine from overrevving.
NSD589
Starting and driving5-23
Deactivating the temporary manual drive pro-
gram:
Pull and hold the right steering wheel gearshift
paddle until the automatic transmission shifts
into the last active automatic drive program E or S.
When manual drive program M is deactivated,
the automatic transmission in automatic drive
program E or S may shift from the current gear
into a higher or lower gear. This is dependent
on the position of the accelerator pedal, speed
and load.
Problems with the transmission
:
Problem Possible causes/consequences and solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear The transmission is losing oil.
Have the transmission checked immediately. It is recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
The acceleration abil-
ity is deteriorating The
transmission no lon-
ger shifts into all of
the gears Reverse gear
can no longer be en-
gaged The transmission is in emergency mode.
•Stop.•Shift the transmission to position P (Park).•Switch off the engine.•Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.•Shift the transmission to position D (Drive).•Have the transmission checked immediately. It is recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
5-24Starting and driving
display. If this is the case, the Idle Stop/Start
function is not active.
If indicator lamp
2on ECO button1is off, the
Idle Stop/Start function has been deactivated
manually or as the result of a malfunction. The
engine will then not be switched off automati-
cally when the vehicle stops.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and instructions
for proper use of the LDW system could result
in serious personal injury or death. The LDW
system will not steer the vehicle or prevent
loss of control. It is the driver’s responsibility
to stay alert, drive safely, keep the vehicle in
the traveling lane, and be in control of the
vehicle at all times.
The LDW system warns the driver with a warn-
ing light and intermittent steering vibration that
the vehicle is beginning to leave the traveling
lane. The LDW system uses a camera
1installed
behind the windshield to monitor the lane
markers of your traveling lane.
NSD644
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
Starting and driving5-29
LDW SYSTEM OPERATION
1Steering wheel mounted controls
2Vehicle information display
ADisplay area
BMenu barThe LDW system operates at speeds of approxi-
mately 40 MPH (60 km/h) and above, when the
lane markings are clear.
If the system detects that the vehicle’s front
wheel has passed over the lane marking, a
warning will be provided. It will warn you by
means of intermittent vibration through the
steering wheel for up to 1.5 seconds and a
visual alert.
NOTE
The LDW system is designed not to warn when
you operate the lane change signal and change
traveling lanes in the direction of the signal.
No warning vibration occurs if you activate the
turn signals. In this event, the warnings are sup-
pressed for a certain period of time.
NSD626
5-30Starting and driving
HOW TO ENABLE/DISABLE THE LDW
SYSTEM
1. Press theorbutton on the
steering wheel
1to select the [DriveAssist]
menu on the Menu bar
B.
2. Press the
orbutton to select
[Lane Departure Warning].
3. Press the
1. The current selection is displayed.
4. Press the
5. Press the
orbutton to set [Off],
[Standard] or [Adaptive].
6. Press the
When the LDW is activated, the vehicle
information display shows the lane mark- ings as bright lines in the assistance graphic
in the display area
A
When [Standard] is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if:
•You have switched on the turn signals. In this
event, the warnings are suppressed for a
certain period of time.
•A driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, brake assist system (BAS) or VDC.
When [Adaptive] is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if:
•You have switched on the turn signals. In this
case the warnings are suppressed for a
certain period of time.
•A driving system intervenes, such as ABS,
BAS or VDC.
•You accelerate forcefully.
•You brake forcefully.
•You steer actively, for example, swerve to
avoid an obstacle or change lane quickly.
•You cut the corner on a sharp bend.
The system may detect certain conditions and
warns you accordingly. The warning vibration occurs earlier if:
•You approach the outer lane marking on a
bend.
•The road has very wide lanes, for example, a
freeway.
•The system detects solid lane markings.
The warning vibration occurs later if:
•The road has narrow lanes.
•You cut across a corner on a bend.
LDW SYSTEM LIMITATIONS
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations for the
LDW system. Failure to operate the vehicle in
accordance with these system limitations
could result in serious injury or death.
•This system is only a warning device to in-
form the driver of a potential unintended
lane departure. It will not steer the vehicle
or prevent loss of control. It is the driver’s
responsibility to stay alert, drive safely,
keep the vehicle in the traveling lane, and
be in control of the vehicle at all times.
NSD599Assistance graphic
Starting and driving5-31