PEUGEOT Coupe 406 Handbook page 63

62
SETTING OFF: Gear lever
....................................................................................................................................
AUTOMATIC GEARBOX
Operating programmes
You have a choice of three operating pro-
grammes:
- Automatic (normal).
-Sport.
- Snow.
Pressing button 1 or 2 will select Sport or
Snow respectively. Your selection is displayed
on the instrument panel. Pressing the button
a second time enables a return to the auto-
matic programme (normal).
Automatic programme (normal)
Gear changes are carried out on the basis of
various parameters, such as:
- driving style,
- road characteristics,
- the load the vehicle is carrying.
The gearbox continuously scans the different
programmes in the memory and selects the
one most suitable for the driving conditions
at any given moment.
Thus, when the vehicle is being driven at
moderate speeds, a programme favouring
fuel economy will be selected. Faster driving
with hard acceleration will cause the gearbox
to select a more sporty programme, with gear
changes at higher engine speeds.
Likewise, gear changes, whether up or down,
will take place at different engine speeds,
depending on the route (level, mountainous,
etc.) and the load carried.
Sport programme
The Sport programme favours performance
for sporty driving and more dynamic acceler-
ation.
Snow programme
This programme offers driving adapted to
slippery roads, so as to improve traction and
stability. First gear is not used (starts in
second) and changes into lower gears are
performed at low engine speeds.
In positions 3 and 2, the gearbox operates as
a manual one: in position 3, the car is started
and driven in third gear only. In position 2,
starting and driving are in second gear only.