What does M plus/minus gear mean?
2 Answers
M gear is a gear position in cars with a manual-automatic transmission. When the M symbol shows a "+" sign, it means upshift, and when it shows a "-" sign, it means downshift. The functions of the M gear in automatic transmission cars are as follows: 1. Manual adjustment of gear shifting: You can press this button to upshift or downshift, and freely adjust by moving the gear lever left/right or up/down. 2. Gear shifting operations are only executed within safe parameters, meaning shifts will only occur within preset safety limits for upshifts and downshifts. 3. In manual-automatic mode, there's almost no need to worry about damaging the car or stalling due to operation. More often, it's about enjoying the driving experience. 4. CVT transmissions offer a more direct power feel, mainly compared to dual-clutch transmissions and traditional AT transmissions. CVT transmissions might be slightly different since they are continuously variable, but when shifted to M gear or S gear, they simulate several regular AT gear positions.
I usually enjoy driving in manual mode, especially when going through mountain roads or overtaking. The m +/- is for manual shifting—after pushing the gear lever to the m position, pushing forward shifts up, and pulling back shifts down. This allows me to control the gears based on road conditions. For example, using a lower gear when climbing gives the car more power, and a lower gear when descending helps slow the car down, preventing brake overheating. Just remember to watch the tachometer—shift up in time if the RPM is too high, or the engine will shake if it's too low. After a few tries, you'll get the hang of it, and the sense of control is fantastic. Manual mode is actually good for the car's transmission—it's gentler than letting the computer shift frequently and can even save some fuel.
