Aston Martin DBX 2021 Driving Techniques and Transmission Controls User Manual
Driving Techniques
Procedures for driving this vehicle may be unfamiliar to many new owners. To make sure that you have a safe and enjoyable entry into this new phase of Aston Martin motoring, please take time to safely acquire the necessary new driving skills. Practice in safe, lower speed conditions before investigating the high-performance potential of the vehicle. Driving behavior, such as avoiding aggressive driving, travelling at lower speeds, correctly inflating tires, reducing periods of idling and not carrying excessive weight, will improve fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.
Performance Driving Courses
Performance driving courses are available to enable you to fully understand the control functions of your vehicle and also the basic principles of performance driving. Contact your Aston Martin Dealer for further information.
Running-In
This vehicle is fully hot tested during manufacture and no special running-in procedures are necessary. Nevertheless it is recommended to limit engine loads (e.g. by accelerating gently and by using lower gears on steep hills or when negotiating tight turns) during the first 1500 km/900miles.
Track Days
Before using this vehicle on track days contact your Aston Martin Dealer for vehicle set up, service parts and recommendations
Conditions
When driving in wet conditions, water can build up under your tires so that they ride on a layer of water. This is called aquaplaning or hydroplaning. When this happens, you have little or no control. Aquaplaning is more prone to happening at higher road speeds if there is a lot of water on the road and particularly if the tires are also under inflated or approaching minimum tread depth. It is important to take bends or curves at a safe, reasonable speed, particularly when driving on wet or slippery road surfaces. Slow down when it is raining.
Tyre Skip At Low Speed
In certain conditions, the front tires may ‘skip’ at low speeds with summer tires installed when a high level of steering lock is applied. This is a characteristic of the vehicle and does not affect its safety or performance of the vehicle.
Multi-Purpose Camera
The Multi Purpose Camera (A) is mounted at the top of the windscreen and is used to give external information to a number of driving systems in the vehicle.
To make sure that these additional driving systems function correctly, the area of the windscreen in front of the camera should be kept clean. The camera is under the swept area of the wiper blades, so will be cleaned as the wipers are used in poor weather. In long dry periods such as in summer, the windscreen wipers should be used periodically to prevent build ups of dirt and dust.
How To Start The Engine
Warning: The engine can be started by any person in the vehicle if the brake pedal is pressed down. Care should be taken that the vehicle is not left unattended with the key present and occupants such as young children inside.
Caution:
In extreme low temperatures (-20°C and below) do not run the engine above 4000 rpm, while at standstill or when moving off, until the coolant temperature gauge reaches normal operating temperature. If you do, there is a risk of damage to the engine and transmission.
Caution:
Make sure the park brake is applied and the transmission is in PARK (P). This will prevent the vehicle from moving once the engine is started. To start the engine, fully press the brake pedal down and press START/STOP (A). Once the engine begins to crank, release START/STOP. Stopping The Engine Press START/STOP to stop the engine.
Quiet Start
Push and hold START/STOP for 3 seconds to use the Quiet Start feature. The button bezel will flash red twice to confirm. In Quiet Start, the volume of the exhaust note is reduced on engine start.
Transmission Controls
The automatic transmission has two main driver modes:
- Automatic Mode:
- Transmission is controlled automatically without driver input.
- Manual Gear Change Mode:
- Gear changes can be controlled with the gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel.
Automatic Mode
In Automatic mode, gearshifts are made using the Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive (PRND) buttons mounted on the center stack. While driving forward, gearshifts are made automatically according to various driving parameters, i.e. road speed, current selected gear and accelerator demands. When the vehicle is stationary, the transmission will select first gear, ready to move off immediately when the accelerator is pressed.
Kick-Down
In Automatic mode, kick-down is used in circumstances where rapid acceleration is required, i.e. when overtaking. Kick-down operates when the accelerator pedal is quickly and fully depressed, causing the transmission to change down to the lowest gear possible to achieve maximum acceleration. The gear engaged depends on the road speed at the time of kick-down.
- (PARK): Press and release to select Park when the vehicle is stationary. The transmission will mechanically lock.
Caution: Always make sure that the park brake is ON. This will help to make sure the vehicle will not roll.
It is not possible to select Park above 2 km/h.
- (REVERSE): When stationary and with the footbrake applied, press and release to select Reverse. When reverse is selected, the infotainment screen will change to show the reverse camera display.
- (NEUTRAL): Press and release to select Neutral. Caution: Do not change from Park or Neutral into Drive or Reverse at high engine speed. Doing so can damage the transmission or the engine.
- (DRIVE): When stationary and with the footbrake applied, press and release to select forward gears.
Vehicle Rocking Motion
If the vehicle speed is less than 4 km/h, the reverse may be selected from drive, without pressing the brake pedal, to create a vehicle ‘rocking’ motion i.e. to enable vehicle movement out of mud, snow, etc. If 4 km/h is exceeded then the transmission will automatically select Neutral.
Manual Gear Change Mode
Forward gearshifts are selected by pulling back and releasing the gearshift paddles mounted on the steering column, whilst P (Park) and R (Reverse) are selected with the PRND buttons.
- Downshift (-) Paddle
- Upshift (+) Paddle
Pull back on either the upshift or downshift (-) paddle to enter manual gear change mode. As the vehicle speed increases and decreases, make upshifts and downshifts by pulling and releasing the upshift or downshift paddle. If no gearshift has been requested by pulling back on a paddle, upshifts will occur automatically depending on the drive mode as the engine speed rises or lowers to its maximum or minimum operating limits. If driving in a high gear, pull and hold the downshift paddle to select the lowest available gear. For example, if in sixth gear then second gear is selected. When in manual gear change mode, pull back on the upshift paddle for more than two seconds or press the D (Drive) button to move to automatic mode. The instrument cluster shows the actual gear currently selected R, D1, D2, etc. and the target gear when a gearshift is in progress.
Gear Shift Indicator
The center message window shows the current gear selected with an up arrow to indicate when a gear change should take place to obtain better fuel economy. For example, when in third gear and a higher gear needs selecting 3^ is shown in the center message window.
Aston Martin 2023 Top Accessories
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Reference Links
View Full User Guide: Aston Martin DBX 2021 User Manual
Download Manuals: https://www.astonmartin.com/en/owners/owners-guides
