Driving In The Mountains - Maserati Quattroporte Automatic Owner's Manual

M139_UM_ing.book Page 178 Friday, September 5, 2008 8:19 AM

Driving in the mountains

On downhill roads, use the engine
brake, engaging low gears so as not to
overheat the brakes.
– Never coast downhill with the
engine off or in neutral, and never
with the ignition key removed.
– Drive at a moderate speed, avoid
"cutting" corners.
– Remember that passing other
vehicles when driving uphill is slower
and thus requires more free distance
on the road. If you are being
overtaken on a hill, slow down and
allow the other vehicle to pass.
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Driving conditions
Driving on snow or ice
Below are some general advice for
driving in these conditions:
– Maintain a very moderate speed.
– Fit snow chains or specific tyres if the
road is covered with snow: see the
chapters "Snow chains" and "Winter
tyres" in this section.
– Mainly use the engine brake and
avoid sharp braking.
– We recommend you activate the
"Low grip" mode (see page 160).
– Avoid sudden acceleration and sharp
changes in direction.
– During the winter season, even
apparently dry roads can have icy
sections. Be careful when crossing
bridges, viaducts and roads that
have little exposure to the sun and
are bordered by trees and rocks.
They may be icy.
– Keep an ample safe distance from
the vehicles in front of you.