Ford 2011 Flex Owner's Manual page 268

Driving
The automatic transmission shift strategy has the ability to detect hilly
terrain or mountainous areas and will provide a limited amount of grade
assist features automatically. Refer to D (Drive) with Grade Assist or
SelectShift for more information.
D (Drive) with Grade Assist
Pressing the transmission control switch on the side of the gearshift
lever activates Grade Assist and cancels Overdrive.
Grade Assist:
• Provides additional grade
(engine) braking and extends
lower gear operation on uphill
climbs for hilly terrain or
mountainous areas.
• Provides additional engine
braking through the automatic
transmission shift strategy which
reacts to vehicle inputs (vehicle
acceleration, accelerator pedal,
brake pedal and vehicle speed).
• Allows the transmission to select
gears that will provide the desired
engine braking based on the
vehicle inputs mentioned above. This will increase engine RPM during
engine braking.
• The grade assist lamp in the
instrument cluster is illuminated.
Grade assist is designed to aid the
driver with optimal gear selection in
hilly terrain or mountainous areas
but is not intended for normal operation. It is recommended that you
return to O/D (overdrive mode) on flat terrain to provide the best fuel
economy and transmission function.
To return to normal D (Drive) position (with O/D), press the
transmission control switch again.
• The grade assist lamp in the instrument cluster will not be illuminated.
• The transmission will operate in gears one through six.
L (Low)
• Provides maximum engine braking.
268
2011 Flex (471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA (fus)