Driving Tips; Hill-Start Assist System - SMART Fortwo coupe Operator's Manual

Effect
7
Drive position
The transmission shifts
automatically.
x
Manual gearshifting
System-controlled automatic
gearshifting is switched off.
The driver has to change the
gears manually.
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator ( page 87).
Y

Driving tips

Accelerator pedal position
Your driving style influences the
transmission's shifting behavior:
Less throttle earlier upshifting
More throttle later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
X
point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
Ease up on the accelerator pedal when you
X
have reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic
lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
X
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
X
When you stop for a longer period with the
engine idling and/or on a hill:
Engage the parking brake.
X
Move the gear selector lever to park
X
position P.
Working on the vehicle
G
WARNING
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and move the gear selector
lever to park position P. Otherwise the
vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Driving on uphill grades
G WARNING
The hill-start assist system is not
designed to function as a parking brake and
does not prevent the vehicle from moving
when parked on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
! When the hill‑start assist system stops
braking the vehicle, it can roll
backwards.
If you open the driver's door, the
hill‑start assist system is deactivated
and a warning signal sounds.
Your vehicle has a hill‑start assist system.
On uphill grades the hill‑start assist
system maintains the pressure in the brake
system for approximately one second after
you have released the brake pedal.
Therefore, you can start off smoothly
without the vehicle moving immediately
after releasing the brake pedal.
Release the brake pedal.
X
Apply sufficient pressure to the
X
accelerator pedal to drive off.
On uphill grades with higher inclination,
the hill-start assist system will release
the pressure in the brake system after
approximately two seconds. A warning
signal sounds and the transmission
Transmission
83
Z