2002 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 157

Starting and driving P R N D 3 2 1 157 Adaptive gear change pattern is a function of the Normal and Sport modes. It allows gear changing to be suited to the prevailing driving conditions. The transmission control module senses the engine load and temperature of the transmission and selects one of the four available gear change patterns. Unnecessary gear changes and undesired temperature increases in the transmission are avoided. IB866 Indication of gear position on the main instrument panel The detent button on the selector lever has to be pressed before the selector can be moved between certain positions. Three modes for the automatic transmission can be selected: Normal, Sport and Winter. The Normal mode, which provides the best fuel economy, is the default setting when the engine is started. Sport mode alters the angle of the throttle valve for increased power compared to the same accelerator position in Normal mode. This means gear changes are made to optimize the car's performance. The SPORT indicator light is shown on the main instrument panel; see page 162). IB1280 Detent positions for selector movement The Winter mode is intended for use when pulling away and driving on icy roads. In this mode, the transmission starts in 3rd gear, to provide better grip, and the WINTER indicator appears on the main instrument panel. When the ignition is turned to OFF, the automatic transmission will automatically revert to Normal mode (see page 162).