Lexus GS300, User Manual

Page: 377 / 622

STARTING AND DRIVING
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5. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress
the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting.
In normal cruising, the vehicle will start in first gear and
automatically shift up to the most suitable gear. On inclines,
declines or winding roads, etc., the vehicle shifts up and down
automatically according to the running conditions to obtain the
suitable driving power and engine braking.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, depress the
accelerator pedal to the full throttle position. This provides
more acceleration by automatically downshifting the
transmission to the next lower gear or beyond, depending on
the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a long hill,
see “(c) Using engine braking”.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) shifting control
AI shifting control selects the most suitable shift range
automatically according to the driver’s operation and
driving condition.
AI shifting control operates automatically with the
selector lever in the “D” position. When the lever is moved
to the “S” position, this function will be canceled.
Shifting control on the slope: On inclines, you can drive
smoothly with reduced shifting quantity. On declines, the
vehicle will shift down automatically to obtain optimum engine
braking and reduce the driver’s foot braking load.
Automatic shifting point change control: The automatic
shifting point control is controlled in the following way to
respond to the driver’s operation.
When the accelerator is depressed quickly, the vehicle
downshifts rapidly in order to improve acceleration.
When the accelerator is quickly released, the gear position
is maintained in order to improve engine braking and
reacceleration capabilities.
During hard deceleration the vehicle downshifts rapidly in
order to improve engine braking and reacceleration
capabilities.