If manual gearshifting is deactivated, the auto-
matic transmission shifts: R
into the drive program that was last selected,
and R
into the driving mode that was last selected
If you change the drive program, the operating
mode that was last selected is stored for approx-
imately 60 seconds. After this time, the HYBRID
operating mode is automatically activated.
Starting the engine The vehicle starts in electric mode without the
internal combustion engine (noiseless start).
The internal combustion engine starts only after
the power demanded by the driver exceeds the
available power that the electric motor can cur-
rently provide.
Noiseless start operation is dependent on the
outside temperature and the operating temper-
ature of the internal combustion engine. If not all
conditions for noiseless start operation are ful-
filled, the vehicle starts with the internal com-
bustion engine.
Observe the notes on starting in the vehicle
Operator's Manual.
X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress the brake pedal. X
Start the vehicle (see the vehicle Operator's
Manual).
When the vehicle is operational, the READY
indicator lights up in the multifunction display
( Y
page 39).
Pulling away X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift the transmission to position D or R .X
If the Apply Brake to Shift from 'P'
display message appears in the multifunction display, depress the brake pedal more firmly
and select the desired transmission position. X
Release the brake pedal. X
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
You can find further information on pulling away
in the vehicle Operator's Manual.
Drive programs
DYNAMIC SELECT controller Select the drive program using the DYNAMIC
SELECT controller. Depending on the drive pro-
gram selected the following vehicle character-
istics will change: R
the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment) R
the suspension R
the steering. R
the energy management
Each time you start the engine with the ignition
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the Com-
fort drive program is activated. You can find
further information on starting the engine in the
vehicle Operator's Manual.
X
Turn DYNAMIC SELECT controller C as many
times as necessary until the desired drive
program is selected.
The status icon of the selected drive program
is shown in the multifunction display.
In addition, the current drive program settings
are displayed briefly in the multimedia system
display.22
Driving
Driving and parking
Available drive programs:
Individual R
Indivi dual settings
Sp ort R
Spo rty driv ing style wit h
increased boost mode R
Electric-only operation is
not poss ible
Comfort R
Comfortable, economical
driv ing style R
Electric-only operation is
poss ible
Slippery R
Optimal driv ing charac-
teristics on slipp ery or
snow-covered roads R
Electric-only operation is
poss ible
Further information on the driv e program (see
the veh icle Operator's Manual).
Using the steering wheel paddle shifters, you
can temporar ily change gears yourself. For fur-
ther information on the manual driv e program
( Y
page 23).
Manual gear shifting Using the steering wheel paddle shifters, you
can temporar ily change gears yourself. The
transmission must be in position D . When you
activate manual gearshifting, the combustion
engine is automatically swit ched on.X
To activate: pull the left or right steering
wheel paddle shifter.
Manual gearshifting is activated temporar ily.
The selected gear and M appear in the mult i-
function display.
The ECO start /s top function is not availab le
when manually changing gear.
Further information on manual gearshifting (see
the veh icle Operator's Manual).
ECO start/stop function
General notes
The ECO start/stop function swit ches the com-
bustion engine off automatically when the veh i-
cle stops moving and at spee ds below 80 mph
(13 0 km/ h) ( Y
page 24). All vehicle systems remain active, e.g. the auto-
matic climate control.
The ECO start/stop function is neither available
in the Sport drive program nor during manual
shifting.
Automatic engine switch-off The engine is switched off automatically, includ-
ing when: R
the driver removes his/her foot from the
accelerator in the Comfort drive program and
a speed of 80 mph (130 km/h) is not excee-
ded ( Y
page 24) R
the engine has reached its operating temper-
ature R
the driver’s seat belt is fastened and the
driver’s door is closed R
the driver only slightly depresses the accel-
erator pedal in order to, for example, maintain
the current speed for a limited distance R
the hood is closed and engaged properly R
the high-voltage battery is charged suffi-
ciently R
no malfunctions are present in the hybrid
drive system
The internal combustion engine will not be
switched off automatically, if: R
the self-diagnosis function of the engine man-
agement is active R
there is a malfunction in the hybrid drive sys-
tem R
the climate control of the vehicle requires it R
the high-voltage battery is charging
( Y
page 40).
Automatic engine start The automatically switched-off internal combus-
tion engine starts automatically in certain situa-
tions, if: R
the power demand from the driver via the
accelerator pedal is greater than the electric
motor alone can provide R
the driver switches to the Sport drive pro-
gram or to manual gearshifting R
the condition of charge of the high-voltage
battery has reached the lower limit R
the driver has selected the CHARGE operating
mode Driving 23
Driving and parking
Overrun mode In overrun mode, the combustion engine is
switched off and is disconnected from the drive
train. The electric motor: R
generates low thrust, which corresponds to
the overrun mode of an active combustion
engine R
functions as a generator and produces the
necessary energy for the auxiliary consumers
and charges the high-voltage battery
Overrun mode is available in the Comfort drive
program at speeds below 80 mph (130 km/h).
Route-based operating strategy For the route-based operating strategy, the sys-
tem factors in information about the expected
route when route guidance is active.
The information on the route is provided by the
multimedia system and includes the following: R
road categories R
speed limitations
The use of electric energy is automatically opti-
mally distributed from the beginning to the end
of the journey, using information about the
route. The distribution is pre-emptive and takes
into consideration: R
the sections of the journey ahead R
the energy consumption on the whole route The condition of charge of the high-voltage bat-
tery is thus systematically controlled. In addi-
tion, the control function takes into account
that: R
the fuel saving through the use of electrical
energy can vary, dependent on the route (e.g.
urban, interurban or highway) R
the use of electrical energy is held available
for electric driving, particularly for urban
routes
The vehicle thus automatically selects the opti-
mum driving mode for the respective section of
the route.
The route-based operating strategy is available
under the following conditions: R
the Individual drive program is selected R
in the Individual drive program, the ECO set-
ting is selected under Drive R
HYBRID driving mode is selected R
active route guidance is activated R
suitable map data is available
When the route-based operating strategy is
being used, the area in front of the vehicle is
shown as green in the multifunction display.24
Driving
Driving and parking