gearshift behaviour could become
perfect as expected after few
hundreds of km.
CAUTION!
In order to properly use the automatic
transmission, it is essential that you
read through the whole chapter, so
that you can understand right from
the start what the correct and granted
operations are.
Damage to the transmission may occur
if the following precautions are not
observed:
• Shift into P (Park) only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop:
this is the default position of the
lever. After engaged P (Park) it is
possible set the ignition switch to
OFF .
• Shift into or out of R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop and the engine is at
idle speed.
• Do not shift between P (Park), R
(Reverse), N (Neutral) or D (Drive)
when the engine is above idle speed
• To effect any change from vehicle
stop to R (Reverse), D (Drive), 1 st
or 2 nd
gear, it is necessary to keep the
brake pedal fully depressed.
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to move the shift
lever out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) if
the engine speed is higher than idle
speed. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when
your foot is firmly pressing on the
brake pedal.
• As with all vehicles, you should
never exit a vehicle while the engine
is running. Before exiting a vehicle,
always apply the electronic parking
brake, shift the transmission into P
(Park), and turn the engine off.
• When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the key fob and lock your
vehicle.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle.
This vehicle is equipped with a feature
which
requires the transmission to be
placed in P (Park) before the engine
can be turned off. This prevents the
driver from inadvertently leaving the
vehicle without having placed the
transmission in P (Park). This system
also locks the transmission in P (Park) whenever the ignition switch is in the
OFF position.
Automatic Transmission Lever Automatic transmission is operated by
a shift lever with unlock button,
located on the central console, which
can have the following operating
positions:
• P (Park): button control;
• R (Reverse);
• N (Neutral);
• D (Drive) automatic forward speed;
• M -/+ (Manual): “+” shifting to
higher gear or “–“ shifting to lower
gear in manual mode (see “Drive
Mode” in this section).
Transmission status is visible on the
lever and on the lower part of the
Instrument cluster display.Driving
5
235
Service Shift Lever In the event of a shift lever
malfunction, a message on the
instrument cluster will invite to stop
the car safety and turn off the engine.
In this way the system moves the
transmission in P (Park) position. Automatic Transmission Range P (Park)
Use this position to park the vehicle.
The transmission can be shifted from
“P” position only with the brake pedal
and the unlock button pressed: then
move the shift lever. To move the shift
lever from “P” position to any other
position, the engine must be switched
on. The engine can be regularly
started in P (Park) range. Never
attempt to use P (Park) while the
vehicle is in motion. When parking on
a level surface, you may press the “P”
button first, and then apply the
electronic parking brake by pulling the
trigger upwards. The Instrument cluster will display the
related indicator light
and the
message for 5 seconds.
When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake before pressing the “P”
button.
For enhanced security, turn the front
wheels toward the kerb on a downhill
and away from the kerb on an uphill
grade.Driving
5
238
WARNING!
• Never use the P (Park) mode as a
substitute for the electric parking
brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to prevent
vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
• Make sure the transmission is in P
(Park) before leaving the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• DO NOT race the engine when
shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral)
into another gear range, as this can
damage the drivetrain.
• The following indicators should be
used to ensure that you have
engaged the shift lever into the “P”
position:
– when shifting into P (Park), push
the “P” button on the shift lever.
– with the brake pedal released,
verify that “P” position is
illuminated on the shift lever and
in the instrument cluster display. R (Reverse)
This
range is used to move the vehicle
backward.
Switching to R (Reverse) starting from
N (Neutral) is only possible if the
vehicle is moving backwards.
We recommend to shift into R
(Reverse) only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
• Vehicle stationary: switching
between R (Reverse) and D (Drive),
passing from N (Neutral), requires
brake pedal pressed and action on
the lever.
• Vehicle moving: the driver can switch
from R (Reverse) to N (Neutral)
acting on the shift lever without
pressing the unlock button and the
brake pedal.
N (Neutral)
• Vehicle stationary and engine
started: switching from N (Neutral)
to P (Park) requires “P” button
pressed only. Switching from N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse) and/or D
(Drive) requires brake pedal and
unlock button pressed and the
action on the shift lever.
• Vehicle moving: switching from N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse) and/or D
(Drive) requires pressing the unlock button and the action on the shift
lever. Switching to R (Reverse)
starting from N (Neutral) is only
possible if the vehicle is moving
backwards, while switching to D
(Drive) starting from N (Neutral) is
only possible if the vehicle is moving
forwards.
Set the parking brake and shift the
transmission into P (Park) mode if you
must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not switch to N (Neutral) and/or
never turn off the ignition to coast
downhill. These are unsafe practices
that limit driver’s response to
changing traffic or road conditions.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or
driving for any other reason with the
transmission in N (Neutral) can result
in transmission damage. Refer to
“Towing a Disabled Vehicle” in section
“Emergency” for further information.
D (Drive)
This
range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It providesDriving
5
239
automatic operation. The
transmission will also upshift
automatically once maximum engine
speed is reached.
• If in SPORT mode, the transmission
will remain in the selected gear even
when maximum engine speed is
reached. The transmission will
upshift only if enabled by the driver.
Manual upshift or downshift will be
maintained as long as SPORT mode is
selected, even by full stroke pedal
press.
• If in “M +/-“ or in SPORT mode, the
transmission will automatically
downshift as the vehicle slows to
halt (to prevent engine lugging) and
the current gear will display on the
instrument cluster. Shifting the shift
lever backward “+” or moving the
right shift paddle “+” towards the
steering wheel when stationary, will
cause the vehicle to start in second
gear. If the vehicle speed is too low,
the system will ignore further
upshifts. Avoid using speed control
when the M +/- (Manual) mode is
engaged.
When the car stops in M +/- (Manual)
mode, the transmission automatically
moves the shift lever and inserts P
(Park). If you enter the I.C.E. drive mode
when the gearshift is in “M +/-”
position, the system activates the
automatic return of the shift lever in D
(Drive) mode.
Shift Paddles (if equipped)
The driver can change gears with the
shift paddles behind the steering
wheel when in D (Drive) and M +/-
(Manual) mode.
Using the shift paddles, the
corresponding icon will display on the
instrument cluster beside the “M”
indication and current shifted gear. Pull the right shift paddle “+” towards
the steering wheel and release it to
enter the higher gear; do the same
operation with the left shift paddle
“–“ to enter the lower gear.
• When in D (Drive) mode, by pressing
“–“ paddle the transmission shifts to
“D1 - D2” temporary mode (or the
“Launch Control” on the TROFEO
version).
• Pull simultaneously both paddles to
deactivate the D (Drive) temporary
mode (or the “Launch Control” on
the TROFEO version).
Gear Shift Indicator Light
In order to improve fuel economy, we
recommend that you shift gears when
the system prompts you to do so. This
will help reduce fuel consumption
without significantly affecting vehicle
performance.Driving
5
241
The indicator beside the displayed
gear will light up just before reaching
the required speed to change
downshift or upshift (example in the
figures).
When the new gear is engaged, the
indicator turns off. If the shift runs late
or is not performed at all, the indicator
remains lit for a few seconds then
turns off. As soon as new conditions
requiring further gear change occur, the indicator light will illuminate
again.
NOTE:
The gearshift indicator will only work
when the transmission is set in M +/-
(Manual) mode.
Transmission Malfunction and
Overheating Conditions Transmission Emergency Control
Transmission function is electronically
monitored to detect abnormal
conditions. If a condition that could
result in transmission damage is
detected, “Transmission Limp Home
Mode” will be activated. In this
situation, the transmission may
operate only in certain gears, or may
not shift at all. In some situations, the
transmission system may not
re-engage if the engine is turned off
and restarted.
A message in the instrument cluster
will inform the driver about the more
serious transmission conditions, and
indicate what actions may be
necessary.
Transmission Oil Overtemperature
If the transmission oil temperature
exceeds the operating limit, the red warning light
illuminates on the
instrument cluster.
In this case, slow down until
temperature returns to normal level
(the light will turn off).
If this is not sufficient, we recommend
to stop the vehicle, shift the lever to
position P (Park) or N (Neutral) and
keep the engine idle until the
temperature red warning light
turns off and the message
disappears from the display. Resume
driving without demanding high
engine performance. If the red
warning light
and the related
message turns on again, it is advisable
to stop the vehicle, turn off the engine
and wait for the engine/transmission
assembly to fully cool down.
If the instrument cluster message
indicates that the transmission may
not re-engage after engine shutdown,Driving
5
242
perform the following procedure
preferably at an Authorized Maserati
Dealer .
In the event of a momentary problem,
the transmission can be reset to regain
all forward gears by performing the
following steps.
• Stop the vehicle.
• Shift the transmission into P (Park), if
possible.
• Turn the engine off.
• Wait approximately 30 seconds.
• Restart the engine.
• Shift the transmission into D (Drive)
and then into the desired gear
range. If the problem is no longer
detected, the transmission will
return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset,
we recommend that you visit an
Authorized Maserati Dealer at your
earliest possible convenience, which
has diagnostic equipment to
determine if the problem could recur.
Transmission Manual Release of P
(Park) Position
See chapter “Transmission Manual
Release of P (Park) Position” in section
“In an Emergency”. All-Wheel Drive The active on-demand All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) system provides available
optimum traction for a wide variety of
road and off-road surface and driving
conditions. The system minimizes
wheel slip by automatically redirecting
torque to the front and rear wheels as
necessary.
To maximize fuel economy, the AWD
system automatically disengages
torque distribution on front axle when
road and environmental conditions
are such that wheel slip is unlikely to
occur. When specific road and
environmental conditions require
increased levels of road traction, the
AWD system automatically distributes
the torque between front and rear
axle in order to grant the best driving
experience. Torque distribution is
displayed on the TFT in the “Drive
Mode” main menu. Refer to
paragraph “TFT Display: Menus and
Settings” in chapter “Instrument
Cluster” of section “Dashboard
Instruments and Controls” for further
information. WARNING!
There may be a slight delay for AWD
engagement after a wheel slip
condition occurs.
NOTE:
If the A WD
system service warning
light and message appears after
engine start up, or during driving, it
means that the AWD system is not
functioning properly or is in recovery
mode due to overheating caused by
the excessive wheel spin. In this
condition the vehicle can continue
driving but only rear wheel drive is
working. If the warning light and
message are often activated, it is
recommended to have the vehicle
serviced at an Authorized Maserati
Dealer .Driving
5
243
components. In these conditions the
parking brake must not be used since
the push of the power actuator might
not be sufficient to ensure vehicle
braking, especially on a slope.
Drive normally without braking to
allow the brakes to cool down a few
minutes before stopping. In this way,
the automatic or manual activation of
the parking brake will ensure vehicle
braking.
Parking Before leaving the vehicle, make sure
that the parking brake is fully applied
and place the transmission lever in the
P (Park) position by pressing the “P”
button.
WARNING!
• Always check that the vehicle is
locked before leaving it.
• Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
• Do not park the vehicle on paper,
grass, dry leaves or other flammable
materials.
• Do not leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
CAUTION!
• When you need to park the vehicle
on a steep slope, both with the
engine on or off, it is recommended
not only to engage the parking
brake, but also to shift the
transmission lever to P (Park) before
leaving the vehicle.
• When parking on uneven surfaces
(rocks, sidewalks, etc..) do not activate the Entry/Exit ride height to
avoid any contact of the bottom of
the car with the protrusions of the
ground.
When parking on hill roads, it is
important
to turn the
front wheels
toward the curb on a downhill grade
and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
Apply the parking brake before
placing the shift lever in P (Park),
otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the shift
lever out of P (Park).
In certain conditions, it is however
advisable to disengage the parking
brake manually and slightly apply the
service brake for starting off. This is
advisable when there are obstacles
very close to the vehicle in the
direction in which you intend to move.Driving
5
271
threshold for ESC activation, allowing
higher wheel spin than normally
granted by the ESC system. The
(ESC
OFF) button is fitted beside the gear
shift lever: to deactivate the system see
“Drive Mode” in this section.
WARNING!
In SPORT mode the ESC control
thresholds are higher for maximum
performance on dry road surface. To
ensure maximum security of the ESC,
it is recommended not to activate
SPORT mode on surfaces with
medium- and low-grip (e.g., wet,
snow, dirt, etc..) with ESC system
active (
(ESC OFF) button not
pressed).
NOTE:
• When in “ESC of f” mode, the TCS
functionality of ESC is deactivated
(except for the limited slip feature
described in the TCS paragraph of
this chapter). All other stability
features of ESC function regularly.
• To improve the vehicle's traction
when driving with snow chains, or
when starting off in deep snow,
sand, or gravel, it may be desirable
to switch to the “ESC off” mode by pressing the
(ESC OFF) button and
remain in this operational mode no
longer than needed. Once the
situation requiring “ESC off” mode is
overcome, turn the ESC on again by
pressing the
(ESC OFF) button. This
may also be performed while in
motion.
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
and Electronic Brake-force
Distribution (EBD) The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
provides increased vehicle stability and
brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system
automatically “pumps” the brakes
during severe braking to prevent
wheel lock-up.
The Electronic Brake-force Distribution
(EBD) prevents the rear wheels from
over-braking and provides greater
control of available braking forces
applied to the rear axle.
WARNING!
The ABS helps prevent the wheels
from locking, but it does not increase
the physical grip limits between the
tires and the road. Therefore, always
keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of yours and reduce your
speed when entering a curve.
NOTE:
• When
the vehicle's speed is higher
than 7 mph (11 km/h), you may hear
a slight clicking sound as well as
other motor noises. The system is
performing a self-check cycle to
ensure that the ABS is working
properly.
• This self-check occurs each time the
vehicle is started and accelerated
past 7 mph (11 km/h).
ABS is activated during braking under
certain road or stopping conditions.
ABS-inducing conditions can include
ice, snow, gravel, bumps, railroad
tracks, loose debris.
You may also experience the following
when the brake system goes into Anti-
Lock:
• The ABS motor running (it may
continue to run for a short time after
the vehicle stops).
• The clicking sound of solenoid valves.
• Brake pedal pulsations.
• A slight drop or fall away of the
brake pedal at the end of the stop.
These are all normal characteristics of
ABS functioning.Driving
5
274