Mercedes-Benz 2012 A Class - Manual (Page 158)

Steering wheel gearshift paddles
:
Left steering wheel gearshift paddle
(shifts down)
;
Right steering wheel gearshift paddle
(shifts up)
In drive program M, you can change gear
yourself using the steering wheel gearshift
paddles.
If you pull the left or right steering wheel gear-
shift paddle when in automatic drive program
E (drive program C on AMG vehicles) or S, the
automatic transmission shifts into drive pro-
gram
M for a limited time. Depending on
which gearshift paddle is pulled, the auto-
matic transmission immediately shifts into
the next gear down or up.
AMG vehicles: you can activate drive pro-
gram M RACE START ( Y page 181) using the
steering wheel gearshift paddles.
i You can only change gear with the steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddles when the trans-
mission is in position
D.
i For further information on the manual
drive program, see ( Y page 156).
Automatic drive program
Drive program E (drive program C on AMG
vehicles) is characterised by the following:
R
comfort-oriented engine settings.
R
optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner.
R
the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears unless the accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully.
R
increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example.
R
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin.
Drive program S is characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R
sporty engine settings.
R
the automatic transmission shifting up
later.
R
as a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points, the fuel consumption pos-
sibly being higher.
Manual drive program
Introduction
In manual drive program M, you can change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. For this, the transmission
must be in position
D. The gear currently
selected and engaged is shown in the multi-
function display.
Manual drive program
M differs from drive
programs E (drive program C on AMG vehi-
cles) and S with regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Gear Driving situations
= To use the engine's braking effect
156
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking