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126
Automatic
transmission
Interlock button
The lock button on the selector lever prevents
the lever from being accidentally shifted into
certain positions. Pressing this button deacti-
vates the selector lever lock. Depending on
the direction of the shift, the selector lever
locks at different positions. The positions are
highlighted in the ill ustration
c>
fig. 145 .
Ignition key safety interlock
The key cannot be removed from the ignition
un less the selector lever is in the P park posi-
tion . When the ign ition key is removed, the
selector lever will be locked in the P position.
Kick-down
The kick-down feature allows the vehicle to
generate maximum acceleration.
When you press the accelerator pedal beyond
the resistance point that is reached at full
thrott le, the transmission will select a lower
gear ratio based on vehicle speed and engine
RPM. The engine RPM will be controlled to
produce maximum vehicle accelerat ion as
long as you cont inue to press the accelerator
pedal beyond th is resistance point.
_&
WARNING
Be careful when using t he kick-down fea-
ture on slippery roads. Rapid acceleration
may cause the vehicle to skid.
Dynamic shift program (DSP)
The automatic transmission is electronically
controlled.
-
The transmission is self adapting and will
au-
tomatically
select the best shift prog ram suit-
ed to the driving condit ion s and driving style.
The transmission will select one of the
econo-
my
programs when you drive at a steady
speed or a gradually chang ing speed without
heavy acceleration . This achieves optimum
fuel efficiency, w ith early upsh ift ing and de-
layed downshifting .
The transmission will automatically select the
sporty
shift programs when you drive at high-
er speeds, or with heavy acceleration and fre-
quently changing speeds. Upshifts are delayed
to make full use of engine power. Downshift-
ing takes place at higher engine speeds than
in the economy prog rams.
The selection of the most suitable shift pro-
gram is a continuous, automatic process. The
driver can also make the transm ission switch
to a sporty program by
quickly
pressing down
the gas pedal.
This causes the transm ission to shift down to
a lower gear to achieve rapid accelerat ion, e.g .
for quickly passing anothe r vehicle. You do not
need to press the gas pedal into the kick-down
range. After the transmission has upshifted ,
the or igina l program is selected according to
your driving style .
An additional shift program allows the auto-
matic transmission to select the proper gear
for uphill and downhill grad ients.
This keeps the transmission from shift ing up
and down unnecessarily on hills . The trans-
mission will shift down to a lower gear when
the driver presses the brake pedal on a dow n-
hill gradient. Thi s makes use of t he braking ef-
f ect of the engine without the need to shift
down manually .
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