Driving tips
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D. Gearshifting is determined
by:
R
the selected drive program
R
the position of the accelerator pedal
R
the road speed
Accelerator pedal position
Your driving style influences how the automatic
transmission shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R
more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X
Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a lower
gear depending on the engine speed.
X
Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Gliding mode (diesel engines only)
Gliding mode is characterised by the following:
R
the combustion engine is disconnected from
the drive train
R
the engine speed is equal to the engine idling
speed
R
the gear indicated after the transmission
position D disappears in the multifunction
display (
Y
page 158)
Gliding mode can be activated and transmission
position D shown in green under the following
conditions:
R
you select the "ECO" setting for the drive sys-
tem within the Individual drive program. You
can find information about this in the Digital
Owner's Manual
R
the speed is within a suitable range
R
the type of road is suitable, e.g. no steep uphill
or downhill gradients
R
the distance to the vehicle in front is sufficient
R
you are no longer depressing the accelerator
pedal
Gliding mode is deactivated under the following
conditions:
R
you depress the accelerator pedal
R
you depress the brake pedal
R
you use the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch
the transmission position (
Y
page 156)
R
you use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
change the drive program (
Y
page 155)
R
you activate manual gearshifting
(
Y
page 160)
R
the distance to the vehicle in front is too short
R
you leave the suitable speed range
Towing a trailer
X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed range
on uphill gradients.
X
Depending on the uphill or downhill gradient,
use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (
Y
page 160) to select a lower gear,
even if cruise control, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC or the speed limiter are activated.
Drive programs
Slippery drive program
The Slippery drive program has the following
characteristics:
R
reduced engine and transmission settings for
optimum propulsion on slippery or snow-cov-
ered roads.
R
optimised ESP
®
stability control on slippery
or snow-covered roads.
R
the vehicle has improved driving stability on
slippery or snow-covered roads, for example.
Comfort drive program
The Comfort drive program has the following
characteristics:
R
comfort-orientated engine and transmission
settings.
R
optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
Automatic transmission
159
Dri
ving
an
d
pa
rki
ng
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