Comfort-Matic, the robotic gearbox that works for you
The strength and precision of a manual gearbox, with the comfort and ease of an automatic gearbox.
The strength and precision of a manual gearbox, with the comfort and ease of an automatic gearbox.
You only have two pedals: the brake and the accelerator. Don’t press both of them at the same time!
Always use the right foot only. Don’t leave the gearbox in N (neutral)
Switching on the engine
- With the engine off, press the brake and turn the ignition key to MAR.
To move off
- Press and hold the brake and look at the display
- If you see the word ‘AUTO’, it means that you are in automatic mode, and if not you are in manual mode.
- To switch from one mode to the other, simply move the lever towards A/M and release it immediately.
Stopping and parking
- Brake and look at the display: if it indicates a gear you can switch off the engine, whereas if it shows N, push the lever towards + or R, check that the gear appears on the display, and then switch off the engine.
- Always pull the handbrake.
- Do not leave the gearbox in N (neutral).
Automatic mode
Moving forward
If the display shows AUTO 1 (First gear):
release the brake and accelerate gently.
Comfort-Matic will change gear when necessary.
If the display shows AUTO N (Neutral) or AUTO R:
- push the lever towards +. The word AUTO 1 will appear on the display.
- release the brake and accelerate gently.
If a buzzer sounds, it is perhaps because you didn’t press the brake pedal or you are trying to move off in neutral gear.
Reversing
If the display shows AUTO R (Reverse): release the brake and accelerate gently.
If the display shows AUTO N (Neutral) or 1 (First gear):
- push the lever towards R. The letter R will appear on the display
- release the brake and accelerate gently.
Only and always use your right foot
Suggest the gear
- In automatic mode, you can still suggest which gear to use by moving the lever towards + or -, for example to downshift more quickly.
- To brake and accelerate use the two pedals normally, but don’t press them at the same time.
- To overtake press the accelerator firmly down to the floor. The Comfort-Matic recognizes the ‘kickdown’ and downshifts to give you pick-up (practice using the kickdown a few times on a stretch of empty road).
Manual mode
Move the lever towards A/M and look at the display: the word AUTO should disappear.
You are now in control, and it is up to you to decide which gear to use.
The selector lever becomes a joystick: moving it towards + shifts up gear, while moving it towards – shifts down gear.
The display tells you which gear you are in.
Special functions
When in automatic mode, the Comfort-Matic offers all of the following special functions:
- The UP button is designed specifically for camper vans: it optimizes gearshifts on steep uphill and downhill slopes and on journeys with a full load.
- Cold engine. For cold starts, this function regulates the gearshifts to keep emissions as low as possible.
- Brake Assistance. In abrupt braking situations, the system shifts down gear to help slow and stop the vehicle more quickly.
- Kick Down. When accelerating sharply, for example when overtaking, drops down a gear to ensure better pick-up.
- Fast Off. If the accelerator is released abruptly, this function prevents the next higher gear from being engaged to avoid losing engine braking.
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