What is the M1 gear?

[LeCarson]

M1 can be understood as the first gear in manual mode. It is generally used when going up or down slopes, entering underground parking lots, in traffic jams, or when following other vehicles. 'M' indicates that the transmission is currently in manual mode, and '1' means the transmission is in first gear. Many automatic transmission vehicles have an M gear, which stands for 'Manual,' representing the manual mode of an automatic transmission. After shifting into M gear, the driver can control the automatic transmission to upshift or downshift. Engaging the M gear switches to manual mode, requiring manual gear changes. The gear lever will have '+' and '-' symbols; pushing the lever toward '+' shifts up one gear, while pushing it toward '-' shifts down one gear. Some cars with a manual-automatic transmission require the use of a gear lever to control upshifting or downshifting after engaging the M gear. Some sports cars are equipped with paddle shifters, allowing the driver to control upshifting or downshifting using these paddles. Common gears in automatic transmissions generally include the following: P gear, N gear, R gear, D gear, L gear, S gear, and M gear. P gear, short for 'Parking,' is the parking gear. It is typically used when turning off and parking the vehicle. Many vehicles must be in P gear to power off, remove the key, or lock the doors. After shifting into P gear, the vehicle's braking mechanism is locked. N gear, short for 'Neutral,' is the neutral gear. It is generally used for short stops, such as at traffic lights. One important thing to note is that if the engine stalls while driving, shifting into N gear is necessary to restart the engine. D gear, short for 'Drive,' is the forward gear. D gear is the most commonly used gear; shifting into D gear and pressing the accelerator will make the car move forward. L gear, short for 'Low,' is the low gear, also known as the hill-climbing gear. Its purpose is to reduce speed and increase torque, often used when climbing slopes. S gear, short for 'Sport,' is the sport gear. Many models refer to this as 'Sport Mode.' Engaging S gear causes the car to shift up later or downshift earlier, keeping the engine at higher RPMs and increasing torque output for greater power. It is commonly used when overtaking. Scenarios for using M gear: Downshifting to overtake: When overtaking in D gear, the speed won't increase rapidly even if you press the accelerator hard, as the transmission will only upshift sequentially. However, switching to M gear and pressing the accelerator allows the vehicle to utilize the high torque of lower gears for instant acceleration, making overtaking faster. Descending slopes: When going down a long slope in automatic mode, the speed will uncontrollably increase, requiring frequent braking. However, switching to manual mode and downshifting to a lower gear allows the use of engine braking to control speed. At the bottom of the slope, you can quickly upshift or switch back to automatic mode to resume normal driving. Ascending slopes: Using the manual mode of a manual-automatic transmission when going uphill and keeping the gear in first gear restricts the vehicle to low gears, preventing frequent gear shifts. This enhances the car's power and protects the transmission. Common automatic transmissions in cars include three types: AT transmission, CVT transmission, and dual-clutch transmission. AT transmission is a common automatic transmission, also known as a torque converter transmission because it connects to the engine via a torque converter. The torque converter consists of three parts: the impeller, turbine, and stator. CVT transmission is a relatively simple automatic transmission, consisting of only two pulleys and a steel belt. The steel belt can move along the pulleys, allowing the transmission to vary speed and torque. CVT transmissions exhibit almost no jerking during gear shifts, providing smooth performance. Due to their simple structure, compact size, and light weight, many Japanese and domestic cars use CVT transmissions. Using a CVT transmission improves fuel efficiency and ride comfort. The key technology of dual-clutch transmissions lies in the dual-clutch system, which consists of two clutches—one responsible for odd-numbered gears (1, 3, 5, 7) and the other for even-numbered gears (2, 4, 6). Dual-clutch transmissions lack a torque converter or planetary gear sets. Two automatically controlled clutches, managed electronically and hydraulically, operate simultaneously. While one gear is engaged, the next gear is already prepared, significantly reducing shift times with no delay.