How Many Gears Does an Automatic Car Have?
2 Answers
An automatic car is equipped with 6 gears. From top to bottom, they are: P, R, N, D, S, L. Automatic cars use an automatic transmission to regulate speed. While driving, the control system of the automatic transmission automatically selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load. P stands for Parking gear, used when the car is parked and not in use. The wheels are mechanically locked to prevent rolling. R stands for Reverse gear, used when reversing the car. N stands for Neutral gear, used when temporarily stopping. To prevent the car from rolling on a slope, the brake must be pressed. D stands for Drive gear, also known as the driving gear, used when moving forward. S stands for Sport mode. When this gear is engaged, the gears can be freely switched, but the shifting timing is delayed to keep the engine at high speed for a period, increasing the car's power. L stands for Low gear, used when going downhill or on long slopes. It allows the car to use the engine's power for braking, preventing the brake pads from overheating due to prolonged braking, which could be dangerous.
My automatic transmission car has 6 gears, mainly the most commonly used ones like P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive). Some models have numbered gears under D, like my car which has D3 and D2 as lower gears - D2 is particularly useful for slowing down during long descents. Actually, some luxury cars now have up to 10 gears, but honestly, you don't need to switch between so many gears in normal driving. Oh, and a reminder: don't always stay in D gear and press the brake at red lights for too long, as it's not good for the transmission over time.
