What does the DS gear shift in a car mean?
1 Answers
DS on a car's gear shift refers to the Sport mode, also known as the Hill Climb mode. It is characterized by higher RPMs for upshifting and is primarily used for climbing mountain roads and quick overtaking. Automatic transmission gear positions are generally represented by the letters P, R, N, D, S, and L, which stand for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Sport mode, and Low mode, respectively. The DS in an automatic transmission is the switching between D (Drive) and S (Sport) modes. D mode is the Drive mode, where the transmission automatically shifts gears within the engine's RPM range when the gear lever is moved to this position. The shift points depend on engine load, the driver's driving style, and vehicle speed. S mode, on the other hand, is the Sport mode of D mode, offering more powerful output. In Sport mode, the transmission can shift freely, but the shifting is delayed, keeping the engine at higher RPMs for a longer time, thereby increasing the vehicle's power.