Holding the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients
WARNING
If the transmission overheats, the elec-
tronic management system is automati-
cally deactivated. 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 station-
ary on uphill gradients by depressing the
accelerator.
The transmission may overheat if you hold
the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by
depressing the accelerator pedal. If the trans-
mission overheats, a warning tone sounds
and the [Stop Vehicle Shift to P Leave Engine
Running] display message appears in the ve-
hicle information display. You will only be able
to continue your journey once the transmis-
sion has cooled down and the display mes-
sage 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
depending on the engine speed.
•Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Starting and driving5-21
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
yourself using the steering wheel gearshift
paddles.
If you pull the left or right steering wheel
gearshift paddle when in automatic drive
program E or S, the automatic transmission
shifts into drive program M for a limited time.
Depending on which gearshift paddle is
pulled, the automatic transmission immedi-
ately shifts into the next gear down or up.
Automatic drive programs
Drive program E is characterized by the fol-
lowing:
•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 ac-
celerator 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 fol-
lowing:
•Sporty engine settings.
•The automatic transmission shifting up later.
•As a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points, the fuel consumption
possibly being higher.
Manual drive program
In manual drive program M, you can change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. For this, the transmission
must be in position D (Drive). The gear cur-
rently 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.
NSD584
Starting and driving5-23
Activating the manual drive program:
•Permanently: Press the drive mode switch
1repeatedly until M appears in the ve-
hicle information display. Manual drive
program M remains active until drive pro-
gram E or S is engaged.
•Temporarily: Pull the right or left steering
wheel gearshift paddle (see "Steering
wheel gearshift paddles" later in this sec-
tion). Manual drive program M is tempo-
rarily active. Depending on which gearshift
paddle is pulled, the automatic transmis-
sion immediately shifts into the next gear
down or up.
When manual drive program M is activated
via the steering wheel gearshift paddles, the
temporarily active manual drive program M
will be deactivated automatically after a lim-ited time, if the driving situation permits. The
automatic transmission switches to the pre-
viously activated drive program E or S. When
driving on downhill gradients, the temporarily
active manual drive program M will only be
deactivated if the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed while the vehicle is rolling downhill.
Upshifting:
Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (see "Steering wheel gearshift
paddles" earlier in this section). The auto-
matic transmission 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
recommended gear is shown in the vehicle
information display.
Shift to recommended gear1according 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 auto-
matic transmission shifts down to the next
gear.
If you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission automati-
cally shifts down.
NSD587NSD589
5-24Starting and driving
For maximum acceleration, pull the left-hand
steering wheel gearshift paddle until the
transmission selects the optimum gear for
the current speed.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine dam-
age by not shifting down.
Kickdown:
You can also use kickdown for maximum ac-
celeration 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 us-
ing 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.Deactivating the temporary manual drive
program:
Pull and hold the right steering wheel gear-
shift paddle until the automatic transmission
shifts into the last active automatic drive pro-
gram E or S.
When manual drive program M is deacti-
vated, the automatic transmission in auto-
matic 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 accelera-
tor pedal, speed and load.
Starting and driving5-25
LDW SYSTEM OPERATION
1Steering wheel mounted controls
2Vehicle information display
ADisplay area
BMenu barThe LDW system operates at speeds of ap-
proximately 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 suppressed for a certain period of time.
NSD626
5-32Starting and driving
HOW TO ENABLE/DISABLE THE
LDW SYSTEM
1. Press theorbutton on the
steering wheel
1to select the [Drive-
Assist] menu on the Menu bar
B.
2. Press the
orbutton to select
[Lane Departure Warning].
3. Press the
wheel
1. The current selection is dis-
played.
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 vi-
bration 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 vi-
bration 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
inform the driver of a potential unin-
tended 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.
NSD599
Assistance graphic
Starting and driving5-33
•The system will not operate at speeds be-
low approximately 40 MPH (60 km/h) or
if it cannot detect lane markers.
•The LDW system is primarily intended
for use on well-developed freeways or
highways. It may not detect the lane
markers in certain roads, weather or
driving conditions.
•Do not use the LDW system under the
following conditions as it may not func-
tion properly:
–During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,
etc.).
–When driving on slippery roads, such
as on ice or snow, etc.
–When driving on winding or uneven
roads.
–When there is a lane closure due to
road repairs.
–When driving in a makeshift or tem-
porary lane.
–When driving on roads where the lane
width is too narrow.
–When driving without normal tire
conditions (for example, tire wear,
low tire pressure, installation of
spare tire, tire chains, non-standard
wheels).–When the vehicle is equipped with
non-original brake parts or suspen-
sion parts.
•The camera may not detect lane markers
in the following situations and the LDW
system may not operate properly.
–On roads where there are multiple
parallel lane markers; lane markers
that are faded or not painted clearly;
yellow painted lane markers; non-
standard lane markers; or lane mark-
ers covered with water, dirt, snow,
etc.
–On roads where the discontinued lane
markers are still detectable.
–On roads where there are sharp
curves.
–On roads where there are sharply
contrasting objects, such as shad-
ows, snow, water, wheel ruts, seams
or lines remaining after road repairs.
(The LDW system could detect these
items as lane markers.)
–On roads where the traveling lane
merges or separates.
–When the vehicle’s traveling direc-
tion does not align with the lane
marker.–When traveling close to the vehicle in
front of you, which obstructs the lane
camera unit detection range.
–When rain, snow or dirt adheres to
the windshield in front of the lane
camera unit.
–When the headlights are not bright
due to dirt on the lens or if the aiming
is not adjusted properly.
–When strong light enters the lane
camera unit. (For example, the light
directly shines on the front of the ve-
hicle at sunrise or sunset.)
–When a sudden change in brightness
occurs. (For example, when the ve-
hicle enters or exits a tunnel or under
a bridge.)
–When there is poor visibility. (For ex-
ample, due to insufficient illumina-
tion of the road, or due to snow, rain,
fog or spray.
–When there is glare. (For example,
from oncoming traffic, the sun or re-
flection when the road is wet).
5-34Starting and driving
1Steering wheel mounted controls
2Vehicle information display
ADisplay area
BMenu bar
LDW SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
Under the following conditions, the LDW
system will be canceled automatically, and
the message [Lane Departure Warning Cur-
rently Unavailable See Operator's Manual] isdisplayed in the vehicle information display
2. The LDW system is temporarily unavail-
able.
•The windshield is dirty in the camera's field
of vision.
•Visibility is impaired due to heavy rain,
snow or fog.
•There have been no lane markings for an
extended period.
•The lane markings are worn, dark, or cov-
ered by dirt or snow, etc.
Action to take:When the above conditions
no longer exist, the message goes out and the
LDW system is operational again. If the mes-
sage continues to appear, stop the vehicle in
a safe location, press the P (Park) button , and
clean the windshield.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the LDW system malfunctions, it will cancel
automatically, and the message [Lane De-
parture Warning Inoperative] will appear.
Action to take:Stop the vehicle in a safe
location, engage P (Park), turn the engine off
and restart the engine. If the message contin-
ues to appear, have the system checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
NSD626
Starting and driving5-35