Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal before shifting the shift lever to
R (Reverse), D (Drive) or Manual shift mode.
2. Keep the brake pedal depressed and push
the shift lever to shift into a driving gear.
3. Release the parking brake and brake, then
gradually put the vehicle in motion by press-
ing the accelerator pedal.
The automatic transmission is designed so that
the brake pedalMUSTbe depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any drive position while
the ignition switch is ON.
Shifting
P Park position with parking lock
R Reverse
N Neutral
D DriveTransmission position display
:
NOTE
If the transmission position display in the ve-
hicle information display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether the
desired transmission position IS engaged. Ide-
ally, you should select transmission position D
and automatic drive program E or S.
The shift lever indicator
1located in the lower
part of the vehicle information display shows
the current position of the transmission.
It shows the P,R,N,D modes when the transmis-
sion is in auto mode or the shift position when
the transmission is in manual mode.
NSD585NSD649
5-18Starting and driving
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever is in
any position while the engine is not running.
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Use the P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only
when the vehicle is completely stopped.
P (Park)
:
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the P
(Park) position only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
Use this position when the vehicle is parked or
when starting the engine. Always make sure
that the vehicle is completely stopped before
pressing button
1to engage the P (Park)
position. For maximum safety, the brake pedal
must be depressed before engaging the P (Park)
position. Use this position together with the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, first
depress the brake pedal, apply the parking
brake and then engage the P (Park) position.
The parking lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. In order to secure the vehicle,always apply the electric parking brake in addi-
tion to the parking lock.
In the event of a malfunction of the vehicle’s
electronics, the transmission may lock in posi-
tion P (Park). Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Park position P is automatically engaged if:
•You switch off the engine using the key and
remove the key.
•You open the driver’s door when the vehicle
is stationary or driving at very low speed and
the transmission is in position D (Drive) or R
(Reverse).
R (Reverse)
:
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the R
(Reverse) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
Use this position to back up the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
before selecting the R (Reverse) position.The
brake pedal must be depressed and the shift
lever button pushed in to move the shift lever
from P (Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position to
R (Reverse).
NSD586
Starting and driving5-19
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled
engine while driving the vehicle.
D (Drive)
:
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
The automatic transmission changes gear auto-
matically. All forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D (Drive). Shifting is deter-
mined by:
•The selected drive program.
•The position of the accelerator pedal.
•The road speed.
Accelerator pedal position
:
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
•little throttle: early upshifts
•more throttle: late upshifts
Holding the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients
WARNING
If the transmission overheats, the electronic
management system is automatically deacti-
vated. This interrupts the power transmission
from the engine to the wheels. The vehicle
may, for example, roll backwards on gradients.
There is a risk of an accident. Never hold the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by de-
pressing the accelerator.
The transmission may overheat if you hold the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. If the transmis-
sion overheats, a warning tone sounds and the
[Stop Vehicle Shift to P Leave Engine Running]
display message appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display. You will only be able to con-
tinue your journey once the transmission has
cooled down and the display message in the
vehicle information display has disappeared.
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
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
5-20Starting and driving
WARNING
•Be sure the parking brake is fully released
before driving. Failure to do so can cause
brake failure and lead to an accident.
•Do not release the parking brake from out-
side the vehicle.
•Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure the
parking brake is fully engaged.
•To help avoid risk of injury or death through
unintended operation of the vehicle and/or
its systems, do not leave children, people
who require the assistance of others, or
pets unattended in your vehicle. Addition-
ally, the temperature inside a closed vehicle
on a warm day can quickly become high
enough to cause a significant risk of injury
or death to people and pets.The function of the electric parking brake is
dependent on the on-board voltage. If the on-
board voltage is low or if there is a malfunction
in the system, it may not be possible to apply
the released parking brake. If this is the case:
•Only park the vehicle on level ground and
secure it to prevent it from rolling away.
•Shift the automatic transmission to position
P (Park).
•It is recommended you contact an INFINITI
retailer.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or
if there is a malfunction in the system. It is
recommended you contact an INFINITI retailer.
The electric parking brake carries out a function
check at regular intervals when the engine is
switched off. Noises that occur are normal.APPLYING/RELEASING MANUALLY
The electric parking brake can be applied or
released by operating the parking brake handle
1.
To apply:Push handle
1.
When the electric parking brake is applied, the
red
indicator lamp lights up in the
combination meter.
The electric parking brake can also be applied
when the ignition switch is in the OFF position
or the key is removed.
To release:With the ignition switch in the ON
position, pull handle
1.
NPA1485
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-25
Before driving, check that the brake warning
lightgoes out. For additional informa-
tion, seeWarning lights, indicator lights and
audible remindersin the2. Instruments and
controlssection.
The electric parking brake can only be released
when the ignition switch is in the ON position.
APPLYING AUTOMATICALLY (VEHICLES
WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
The electric parking brake is automatically ap-
plied when:
•Intelligent cruise control (if equipped) brings
the vehicle to a standstill.
or
•Intelligent Parking Assist (if equipped) is
keeping the vehicle stationary.
The red
indicator lamp lights up in the
combination meter.
The electric parking brake is not automatically
applied if the engine is switched off by the Idle
Stop/Start function.
RELEASING AUTOMATICALLY
The electric parking brake can only be released
automatically in vehicles with automatic trans-
mission.
The electric parking brake of your vehicle is
released automatically when all of the following
conditions are fulfilled:
•The engine is running.
•The transmission is in position D (Drive) or R
(Reverse).
•The seat belt is fastened.
•You depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in position R, the lift gate
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
•The driver’s door is closed
•You have shifted out of transmission posi-
tion P (Park) or you have previously driven
faster than 2 MPH (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise, the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
EMERGENCY BRAKING
The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake.
While driving, push handle
1of the electric
parking brake. The vehicle is braked as long as
you keep handle
1of the electric parking
brake pressed. The longer the electric parking
brake handle
1is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
•A warning tone sounds.
•The [Please Release Parking Brake] message
appears.
•The redindicator lamp in the combi-
nation meter flashes.
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is applied.
5-26Starting and driving
WARNING
•If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account
road, weather or traffic conditions. Cruise
control is only an aid. You are responsible
for the distance to the vehicle in front, for
vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and
for staying in lane.
•Always observe the posted speed limits and
do not set the speed over them.
•Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions. Doing so
could cause a loss of vehicle control and
result in an accident.
–When it is not possible to keep the ve-
hicle at a constant speed
–When driving in heavy traffic
–When driving in traffic that varies speed
–When driving in windy areas
–When driving on winding or hilly roads
–When driving on slippery (rain, snow,
ice, etc.) roads
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
1Store the current speed or a higher
speed
2Store the current speed, or if a speed
has previously been stored, call up the
last stored speed.
3Store the current speed or a lower
speed
4Deactivate the cruise control system
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the vehicle information dis-
play for five seconds.
Activation conditions
To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation conditions must be fulfilled:
•The electric parking brake must be released.
•You are driving faster than 20 MPH (30
km/h).
•VDC must be switched on, but not interven-
ing.
Storing, maintaining and calling up a
speed
Storing and maintaining the current speed:
You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 MPH (30 km/h):
1. Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed.
2. Briefly press the cruise controller lever up
1or down3.
3. Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle auto-
matically maintains the speed.
NOTE
Cruise control may be unable to maintain the
stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored
speed is resumed when the gradient evens out.
Cruise control maintains the stored speed on
downhill gradients by automatically braking the
vehicle.
NSD618A
Starting and driving5-45
Storing the current speed or calling up the last
stored speed:
WARNING
If you call up a stored speed and this is differ-
ent from the current speed, the vehicle accel-
erates or brakes. If you do not know what the
stored speed is, the vehicle may accelerate or
brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Take the traffic conditions into account before
calling up the stored speed. If you do not know
what the stored speed is, store the desired
speed again.
1. Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you
2.
2. Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal. The first time cruise control is acti-
vated, it stores the current speed or if a
speed has previously been stored, it regu-
lates the speed of the vehicle to the previ-
ously stored speed.
Setting a speed
Bear in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has accelerated or braked to
the set speed.
1. Press the cruise control lever up
1for a
higher speed or down
3for a lower speed.
2. Keep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.
3. Release the cruise control lever, The new
speed is stored.
4. To adjust the set speed in 1 MPH (1 km/h)
increments: briefly press the cruise control
lever up
1or down3to the pressure
point. The last stored speed increases or
decreases in 1 MPH (1 km/h) increments.
5. To adjust the set speed in 10 MPH (10 km/h)
increments: briefly press the cruise control
lever up
1or down3beyond the pressure
point. The last stored speed increases or
decreases in 10 MPH (10 km/h) increments.
NOTE
Cruise control is not deactivated if you depress
the accelerator pedal. For example, if you accel-
erate briefly to overtake, cruise control adjusts
the vehicle’s speed to the last speed stored after
you have finished overtaking.
Deactivating cruise control
There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
•Briefly press the cruise control lever forward
4.
or
•Brake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
•The vehicle is secured with the electric
parking brake.
•You are driving at less than 20 MPH (30
km/h).
•VDC intervenes or you deactivate VDC.
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the [Cruise Control
Off] message in the vehicle information display
for approximately five seconds.
NOTE
The last speed stored is cleared when you switch
off the engine.
5-46Starting and driving
How to change the set vehicle speed
To cancel the preset speed, use any of these
methods:
•Tap the brake pedal when the vehicle is
moving.
•Quickly push the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow
5.
The message [ICC OFF] appears in the vehicle
information display for 5 seconds.
To reset at a higher cruising speed, use one of
the following methods:
•Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, quickly
pull the cruise control lever towards you
3.
•Pull the cruise control lever up1beyond
the pressure point. The set vehicle speed will
increase by approximately 10 MPH (10 km/h).
•Pull the cruise control lever up (1) at the
pressure point. The set vehicle speed will
increase by approximately 1 MPH (1 km/h).
To reset at a lower cruising speed, use one of
the following methods:
•Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, quickly pull
the cruise control lever towards you
3.
•Pull the cruise control lever down4beyond
the pressure point. The set vehicle speed will
decrease by approximately 10 MPH (10 km/h).
•Pull the cruise control lever down4to the
pressure point. The set vehicle speed will
decrease by approximately 1 MPH (1 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, quickly pull the
cruise control lever towards you
4. The vehicle
will resume the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 20 MPH (30 km/h).
NOTE
If you do not fully release the accelerator pedal,
the [ICC Deactivated Automatically] message
appears in the vehicle information display. The
set distance to a slower-moving vehicle in front
will then not be maintained. You will be driving
at the speed you determine by the position of the
accelerator pedal.
You can also activate ICC when stationary. The
lowest speed that can be set is 20 MPH (30 km/h).
Stopping
WARNING
•To help avoid risk of injury or death through
unintended operation of the vehicle and/or
its systems, do not leave children, people
who require the assistance of others, or
pets unattended in your vehicle.
•The ICC system should only be used to keep
the vehicle stationary when the driver is
actively using the system. When parking
the vehicle, make sure to turn OFF the ICC
system, use the brake, press the PARK (P)
button, and place the ignition switch in the
LOCK position prior to exiting the vehicle.
Failure to do so could lead to serious injury
or death. The ICC system will not hold the
vehicle in place after coming to a stop when
any of the following conditions occur:
–There is a malfunction in the system or
in the voltage supply.
–The ICC system has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e. g. by a
vehicle occupant.
–The accelerator pedal has been de-
pressed, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.NSD582A
5-52Starting and driving