Sequential gear selection (MGF)

In the sport position, the transmission still operates as a conventional CVT unit, but becomes more responsive to changes in driver demands. Engine speed is higher in this mode which improves acceleration. Manual gear changes can be performed sequentially using the selector lever (or steering wheel switches on the MGF).

Movement of the selector lever (or steering wheel switches) in a forward direction, plus (+), changes the transmission up the gear ratios and movement in a rearward direction, minus (-), changes the transmission down the gear ratios

Sequential gear selection (MGF)

Figure 9

The engine control module can control the transmission so that the input shaft speed, relative to the output shaft speed, is fixed in one of six ratios. This gives the effect that the vehicle has a six speed manual transmission with a sequential gear change.

The system protects the transmission, while in manual mode, against shifts that could be potentially dangerous or could damage the powertrain, for example, shifting to first gear at 90 mph, or shifting to top gear at 10 mph. In addition, if the driver does not shift up, the next gear will be automatically selected when the engine revolutions reach approximately 6000 rpm. Equally, if the driver does not shift down when reducing vehicle speed, the system performs the down-change automatically preventing engine stall.

When changing from a CVT drive mode to a manual drive mode, the system looks at current road speed and driving conditions and selects the appropriate ratio. The table titled ’Gear speeds’ gives the ratios of the six predetermined positions.