What does the S gear mean on an automatic car?
2 Answers
Automatic car's S gear stands for Sport mode. When the gear is shifted to S position, the transmission can shift freely, but the shift timing will be delayed, keeping the engine at high RPM for a longer time. This allows the car to run at low gear and high RPM for an extended period, resulting in greater torque output and acceleration. Additional information: 1. Automatic transmission means the driver does not need to shift gears manually. The vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. A typical automatic car has six gear positions, from top to bottom: P, R, N, D, S, L. 2. The correct way to start an automatic car is: first move the gear selector to the predetermined driving position, then press the accelerator pedal. Do not press the accelerator pedal abruptly; instead, press it slowly and accelerate gradually.
When I bought the car, I researched the S gear, which is called Sport mode. When you switch from D gear to S gear, the car feels like a different beast - the throttle response becomes incredibly sharp, with just a light press sending the engine RPM soaring. The transmission also delays gear shifts, keeping the engine at higher revs for more aggressive power delivery. When is it best used? For racing? Not really! It's mainly for climbing steep hills or making quick overtakes when you need that extra torque boost. But honestly, using S gear regularly increases fuel consumption significantly and puts more strain on the transmission. I generally only switch to it briefly when needing extra power - for normal city driving, D gear is perfectly sufficient.
