TDCi auto trans

[NZ XR6]

Was driving on some back roads on my way back to Auckland to avoid the Easter traffic and have some fun. So I decided to try out Sport mode. Much to my surprise, it works quite differently to the petrol model.

(This is the MA/MB auto, not the Powershift.)

Firstly, it will select 6th when cruising so you don't have to keep changing back to Normal mode on the straights. And it seems to change down two gears sometimes when accelerating. The shifts are quicker, which is also true of the petrol model.

This makes it a lot of fun on a back road. If you come into a corner on a slight trailing throttle (so that the turbo keeps spinning), the response when you accelerate is almost immediate. Alternatively, if you're off the power completely, you press the accelerator just before the apex and by the time it changes down and the turbo spools up, you're through the apex and powering out of the corner.

Sport is also great when overtaking - the auto seems very reluctant to change down by more than a gear in Normal mode.

Ford clearly spent some time setting up the auto for the diesel engine, as it also changes down to give engine braking when slowing down. If you haven't tried Sport mode, give it a go next time you're on a road with corners.

[apstar]

What do you think is the fuel penalty in using that mode

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[NZ XR6]

The average on the display is 6.9 l/100 km, which didn't change. So I don't think that it uses much more fuel, especially given that the auto changes up to 6th when you're cruising.

I didn't leave it in Sport all the time as it's very easy to change modes.