2012 Chrysler 300 User Guide SRT - Page 60

SRT AUTOSTICK® Steering Wheel Mounted Paddle Shifters Or Console Mounted Shifter • AutoStick® is a driver-interactive transmission feature that offers manual gear shifting to provide you with more control of the vehicle. AutoStick® allows you to maximize engine braking, and improve overall vehicle performance. • This system can also provide you with more control during passing, city driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, trailer towing, and many other situations. Operation • When the shift lever is in the DRIVE position, the transmission will operate automatically, shifting between the five available gears. To engage AutoStick®, simply move the shift lever to the right or left (+/-) while in the DRIVE position, or press one of the steering wheel mounted shift paddles (+/-). When AutoStick® is active, the current transmission gear is displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) portion of the instrument cluster. In AutoStick® mode, the transmission will shift when manually selected by the driver (using the shift lever, or the shift paddles), unless an engine lugging or overspeed condition would result. It will remain in the selected gear until another upshift or downshift is chosen, except as described below: • The transmission will automatically downshift as the vehicle slows (to prevent engine lugging) and will display the current gear. • The transmission will automatically downshift to first gear when coming to a stop. • You can start out in first or second gear. Tapping (+) (at a stop) will allow starting in second gear. Starting out in second gear is helpful in snowy or icy conditions. • The system will ignore attempts to upshift at too low of a vehicle speed. • Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when AutoStick® is engaged. To disengage AutoStick® mode, hold the shift lever to the right or press and hold the (+) shift paddle until "D" is once again displayed in the instrument cluster. You can shift in or out of the AutoStick® mode at any time without taking your foot off the accelerator pedal. • An "UPSHIFT" message will appear in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) portion of the instrument cluster when using AutoStick®, to alert the driver to upshift to the next gear. The "UPSHIFT" message will appear when approaching the maximum engine speed. Auto • This is the default position when vehicle ignition is first turned on. This mode will give a sporty, but comfortable ride. Within this mode, the suspension will adapt to the vehicle inputs, including vehicle speed, steering inputs, braking and acceleration. • If AutoStick® is engaged while in "Auto" mode, the transmission will automatically shift up if maximum engine speed is reached. • Heavily pressing the accelerator pedal may generate an automatic downshift for improved acceleration. • This mode should be used for most driving situations. 58