Driving for Your Audi Rs Q8 SUV First Generation (2020-2026)

Driving  
Plug-in hybrid drive: The electric drive system  
and the combustion engine will switch off.  
Driving  
Starting the vehicle  
Description  
Applies to vehicles with steering lock: The steer-  
ing will be locked if you switch off the engine in  
transmission position P and open the driver's  
door. The steering lock acts as a theft deterrent.  
Switching off the engine in an emergency  
If necessary, the engine can be switched off in an  
emergency* while the vehicle is still moving.  
START ENGINE STOP  
Press the  
button twice in  
quick succession or press and hold it.  
Switching the ignition on/off  
Fig. 91 Centre console: Starting the engine  
If you only wish to switch the ignition on/off and  
do not want to start the engine as well, proceed  
as follows:  
Important: The key must be in the vehicle. When  
using the Audi connect key*, the mobile device or  
activated Audi connect key card must be in the  
charging box ðpage 245.  
START ENGINE STOP  
Press the  
button without  
pressing the brake pedal.  
Starting the engine  
Automatic ignition off  
Press and hold the brake pedal.  
To prevent the vehicle battery from being dis-  
charged, the ignition and, in some cases, the ex-  
terior lighting may be switched off automatically.  
START ENGINE STOP  
Press the  
button. The en-  
gine should start.  
Plug-in hybrid drive: The electric drive system  
should start. The combustion engine only starts  
when required. A glance at the power meter re-  
veals whether or not the electric drive system is  
switched on ðpage 20.  
Requirements:  
Conventional power unit: The start/stop system  
has switched off the engine.  
Plug-in hybrid drive: You have driven the vehi-  
cle. The combustion engine is not running.  
You must have left the vehicle more than 30  
seconds ago.  
Electrical components with a high power con-  
sumption are switched off temporarily while you  
start the engine. If the engine fails to start im-  
mediately, the starter will be switched off auto-  
matically after a few seconds. In this case, you  
should try to start the engine again after about  
30 seconds.  
The ignition must be switched on.  
The methods used by the vehicle for detecting  
whether you have left include the following:  
Driver’s door has been opened.  
Driver’s seat belt has been unbuckled.  
Brake pedal is not pressed.  
Diesel engine: The engine may take a few sec-  
onds longer than usual to start on cold days.  
Please keep your foot on the brake pedal until  
the engine starts.  
The ignition will also be switched off after 30 mi-  
nutes or when you lock the vehicle from the out-  
side.  
Switching off the engine  
Stop the vehicle.  
WARNING  
START ENGINE STOP  
Press the  
button. The en-  
Never run the engine in confined spaces. The  
exhaust gases are toxic – risk of poisoning!  
gine will switch off.  
110  
Driving  
Power unit start system: fault. Please con-  
tact workshop  
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle  
is stationary and transmission position P has  
been selected. Otherwise you may not have  
the full benefit of the brake servo and power  
steering. You may need more strength to  
steer and brake the vehicle than you normal-  
ly would. This would mean a greater risk of  
accidents and serious injury, because you  
cannot steer and brake in the normal man-  
ner.  
Do not switch off the ignition; otherwise you may  
not be able to switch it on again. Drive to a quali-  
fied workshop without delay and have the fault  
rectified.  
Power unit start system: fault. Please con-  
tact workshop  
There is a malfunction in the engine start system.  
Drive to a qualified workshop soon and have the  
fault rectified.  
Before leaving the vehicle, secure it to pre-  
vent it from rolling away ðpage 112.  
Remote control key: key not recognised. Is  
CAUTION  
key still in vehicle?  
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and  
extreme load conditions until the engine  
has reached its normal operating tempera-  
ture; otherwise this can damage the engine.  
If the engine has been working hard for a  
long time, there is a risk of heat building up  
in the engine compartment after the engine  
has been switched off; this could cause en-  
gine damage. For this reason, you should  
leave the engine idling for about 2 minutes  
before switching it off.  
The vehicle key was removed from the vehicle  
with the engine running. If the vehicle key is not  
in the vehicle you will not be able to switch on  
the ignition or restart the engine after it has  
been switched off. You will also not be able to  
lock the vehicle from the outside.  
Remote control key and smartphone not de-  
tected. Are key and smartphone still in vehicle?  
The vehicle key and smartphone were removed  
from the vehicle while the engine was running. If  
the vehicle key and smartphone are not in the ve-  
hicle you will not be able to switch on the ignition  
or restart the engine after it has been switched  
off. You will also not be able to lock the vehicle  
from the outside.  
Note  
Any brief noises which may be heard when  
the vehicle is started and stopped are quite  
normal and no cause for concern.  
After the engine is stopped, the radiator fan  
may remain on or turn itself back on for up  
to 10 minutes, even if the ignition is switch-  
ed off.  
Remote control key: hold back of key  
against marked area. See owner's manual  
The vehicle key battery is empty or there is radio  
interference. To start the vehicle, you must also  
hold the vehicle key against the symbol  
ðpage 110, Fig. 91.  
It may not be possible to start the vehicle at  
extremely low outside temperatures.  
The full performance is not available until  
the engine is warm. Certain powertrain  
components may need to be warmed up de-  
pending on the type of engine. During this  
warming up phase, is shown.  
If the fault persists, drive to a qualified workshop  
soon and have it rectified.  
Hold back of key against marked area or put  
smartphone in charging box  
Driver messages  
The vehicle key battery is empty or there is radio  
interference. To start the vehicle, you must also  
hold the vehicle key against the symbol  
The following driver messages may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
ðpage 110, Fig. 91 or use the Audi connect key.  
111  
Driving  
If the fault persists, drive to a qualified workshop  
soon and have it rectified.  
position P is selected when you park the ve-  
hicle – risk of accident!  
Always switch off the ignition and take the  
key with you when you leave the vehicle.  
This is particularly important if persons or  
animals are left in the vehicle. They might  
otherwise unintentionally start the vehicle,  
release the parking brake or use power-oper-  
ated equipment – this could cause accidents.  
Do not leave any persons or animals in the  
vehicle when it is locked. Locked doors could  
delay assistance in an emergency, potential-  
ly putting lives at risk.  
Driving the vehicle  
Driving away, stopping, parking  
Driving away from a standstill  
Press and hold the brake pedal.  
Start the engine.  
Select transmission position D or R.  
Release the parking brake.  
Take your foot off the brake pedal. The vehicle  
may start to creep forwards.  
If you do not drive away immediately after  
releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle may  
start to roll backwards. You should there-  
fore immediately press the brake pedal or  
apply the parking brake.  
Press the accelerator to increase the speed.  
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from  
rolling away  
Before leaving the vehicle, always secure it so  
that it cannot roll away.  
CAUTION  
Apply the parking brake.  
To avoid rolling back on gradients always hold  
the vehicle with the brake pedal if you have to  
stop. Do not attempt to hold the vehicle by  
keeping your foot on the accelerator. This  
could cause the gearbox to overheat – risk of  
damage!  
Select transmission position P.  
When parking on a slope, turn the steering  
wheel so that the vehicle would roll into the  
kerb if it did start to move unexpectedly.  
If this is not possible (e.g. if the vehicle has no  
electrical power), you must take additional steps  
to secure the vehicle so that it cannot roll away.  
Hill hold assist  
Only park the vehicle on a level surface.  
When you take your foot off the brake pedal  
when driving away on a slope, the braking force  
will be maintained for several seconds. During  
this period, the vehicle will not roll backwards  
when you set off.  
Block the wheels by placing suitable objects un-  
derneath both the front and rear of each wheel.  
Always apply the parking brake before selecting  
transmission position P. This reduces the load on  
the locking mechanism when the vehicle is on a  
slope.  
Important: The driver's door must be closed, the  
engine must be running and the vehicle must be  
on a slope and facing uphill.  
WARNING  
Always apply the parking brake before leav-  
ing your vehicle – even if you only intend to  
be gone for a short time. Otherwise the ve-  
hicle can roll away – risk of accident!  
To activate the hill hold assist, press and hold  
the brake pedal for several seconds while the  
vehicle is stationary.  
Use the hold assist ðpage 126 if you want to  
hold the vehicle with the brakes for more than a  
few seconds.  
Never leave your vehicle unattended while  
the engine is running – risk of accident!  
If the parking brake is engaged, it may be re-  
leased automatically if the accelerator pedal  
is pressed. Take care when pressing the ac-  
celerator pedal and always make sure that  
112  
Driving  
D (Drive): Normal driving  
WARNING  
E (Efficiency*): Economical driving  
S (Sport): Performance driving  
If you do not drive away immediately after  
releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle may  
start to roll backwards. You should there-  
fore immediately press the brake pedal or  
apply the parking brake.  
Selecting a transmission position  
Important: The ignition must be switched on.  
Stop the vehicle and press the brake pedal.  
Press and hold the release button 1 on the se-  
lector lever.  
The hill hold assist function cannot keep the  
vehicle stationary in all conditions on a gra-  
dient (e.g. if the road is slippery or icy).  
To select the next adjacent transmission posi-  
tion, move the selector lever forwards or back-  
wards to the first point of resistance.  
To skip a transmission position (e.g. to go from  
D to R), move the selector lever past the point  
of resistance in the desired direction.  
The selected transmission position will light up  
next to the selector lever.  
Transmission positions and driving  
programs  
Transmission position N (neutral)  
No power is transmitted to the driven wheels in  
transmission position N. Use transmission posi-  
tion N, for example, in a tunnel car wash.  
Fig. 92 Centre console: Selector lever  
If you accidentally select transmission position N  
while the vehicle is moving (at more than  
2 km/h), you can switch back to D without press-  
ing the brake.  
The automatic gearbox changes gear according  
to the transmission position selected and the way  
the vehicle is currently being driven. When you  
drive at moderate speeds, the gearbox will  
change up early and delay the downshifts to give  
better fuel economy. The gearbox allows higher  
engine speeds for performance driving.  
For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked  
when N is selected.  
Transmission position P (parking lock)  
Important: The ignition must be switched on.  
Transmission positions  
In transmission position P, the vehicle is preven-  
ted from rolling away by the parking lock. The  
parking lock is a mechanical locking mechanism  
for the gearbox.  
The transmission positions are shown next to the  
selector lever.  
P (Park): Parking lock  
R (Reverse): Drive backwards  
N (Neutral)  
Stop the vehicle and press the brake pedal.  
Press the P button 2 on the selector lever.  
Transmission position P will light up next to the  
selector lever.  
D (Drive): Drive forwards  
Driving programs  
If you switch off the engine when transmission  
position D or R is selected, transmission position  
P will be engaged automatically. If you switch off  
the engine in transmission position N, transmis-  
sion position P will be selected automatically af-  
ter approx. 30 minutes.  
Various driving programs can be selected in  
transmission position D. These have an effect on  
when the gearbox changes gear and the reaction  
to accelerator pedal inputs, for example.  
The selected driving program will be displayed in  
the instrument cluster.  
113  
Driving  
The engine must be running if you wish to move  
from P to another transmission position.  
Note  
You do not have to press the brake pedal if  
you switch back and forth between D and R  
within one second. This allows you to rock  
the car backwards and forwards, e.g. to free  
it from snow or mud, etc.  
If you cannot move out of transmission position P  
(e.g. if the vehicle has no electrical power), you  
may need to release the parking lock manually  
ðpage 116.  
Audi recommends driving program D for ev-  
eryday use.  
Selecting a driving program  
Press the selector lever downwards to switch be-  
tween the current driving program and S.  
Manual gear selection  
If you select dynamic or efficiency mode in Audi  
drive select*, the driving program S or E respec-  
tively will be activated. The driving program may  
be switched back to D when the ignition is  
switched off.  
It may not be possible to select S in Audi drive se-  
lect* mode offroad.  
Plug-in hybrid drive: Not all plug-in hybrid modes  
are possible in driving program S. When they are  
operated, the driving program or the plug-in hy-  
brid mode are automatically adjusted if they can-  
not be combined.  
Fig. 93 Centre console: Manual gear selection using selec-  
tor lever  
WARNING  
Before driving off, check that the desired  
transmission position is displayed next to  
the selector lever.  
Before leaving the vehicle, secure it to pre-  
vent it from rolling away ðpage 112.  
In all transmission positions except P and N  
the vehicle must always be held with the  
footbrake when the engine is running. This  
is because an automatic gearbox still trans-  
mits power even at idling speed, and the ve-  
hicle tends to “creep”.  
Fig. 94 Steering wheel: Paddle levers*  
You can change gear manually in transmission  
position D. The gearbox must be in tiptronic  
mode.  
Do not press the accelerator before select-  
ing a transmission position with the vehicle  
stationary and the engine running, as this  
could cause an accident.  
Gear selection with selector lever  
You can switch to manual gear selection mode ei-  
ther with the vehicle stationary or on the move.  
Never select transmission position R when  
driving at normal speeds, as this could cause  
an accident.  
To switch to manual gear selection mode, move  
the selector lever toward the passenger’s side  
ðFig. 93. M will be displayed in the instrument  
cluster.  
The car can roll away even if the ignition is  
switched off.  
To change up: Press the selector lever forwards  
+ .  
114  
Driving  
To change down: Pull the selector lever towards  
the rear .  
To switch back to automatic mode, move the  
selector lever toward the driver's side.  
Applies to vehicles with boost function: In driving  
programs D and S, the electric motor may cut in  
briefly when the accelerator pedal is pressed  
heavily. The availability of this function depends,  
among other things, on the charge level of the  
high-voltage battery and the temperature of the  
drive components.  
Gear selection with paddle levers  
Applies to: vehicles with paddle levers  
To change up: Press the paddle lever  
+
ðFig. 94.  
WARNING  
To change down: Press the paddle lever .  
To shift into the lowest possible gear for maxi-  
mum acceleration, hold the paddle lever .  
To switch back to automatic mode, hold the  
The driven wheels may start to spin when you  
use the kick-down function, causing the vehi-  
cle to lose grip, on slippery or wet roads – risk  
of accident!  
paddle lever  
+
for longer or pull the selector  
lever towards the rear.  
Launch control  
The gearbox will revert to automatic mode if you  
do not operate one of the paddle levers again  
within a short period. To switch to manual gear  
selection mode permanently, move the selector  
lever toward the passenger’s side.  
Applies to: vehicles with launch control  
The launch control gives you optimum accelera-  
tion when starting from a standstill.  
Important  
The engine must be warm.  
Note  
The steering wheel must be pointing straight  
ahead.  
The gearbox only allows manual gear  
changes if the engine speed would remain  
within the permissible range.  
The start/stop system* must be deactivated  
ðpage 122.  
The gearbox automatically shifts up or down  
into the next gear before a critical engine  
speed is reached.  
The hold assist* must be deactivated  
ðpage 126.  
The ESC must be restricted ðpage 136.  
Driving program S must be selected  
ðpage 114 and Audi drive select* must be set  
to dynamic mode ðpage 131.  
Applies to RS model: The letter M may be  
displayed in red in the instrument cluster in  
certain situations (this is an engine-depend-  
ent feature). In this case, a high-perform-  
ance variant of the manual mode is activa-  
ted. The gearbox does not automatically  
shift up into the next gear shortly before  
the maximum engine speed is reached. Re-  
member to shift to the next gear in good  
time.  
Using the launch control  
Press the brake pedal with your left foot and  
hold it down for at least one second.  
Keeping the brake pedal pressed, simultane-  
ously press the accelerator all the way down  
with your right foot.  
When the engine revs are high and steady, take  
your foot off the brake.  
Accelerator  
Applies to RS model: Depending on the vehi-  
cle’s equipment, the following driver message  
may appear: Launch control programme: acti-  
vated. When the engine revs are high and  
steady, take your foot off the brake. On some  
equipment versions, the red flashing shift light   
You can use the accelerator pedal to increase the  
vehicle’s speed.  
Maximum acceleration  
A kick-down function is available for maximum  
engine output and acceleration if you press the  
accelerator all the way down.  
115  
Driving  
Releasing the parking lock manually  
display ðpage 21 will indicate the best time to  
release the brake.  
Secure the vehicle so that it cannot roll away  
ðpage 112.  
Insert the screwdriver (provided in the vehicle  
When you are finished with the launch control,  
please remember to fully activate the ESC again.  
toolkit ðpage 353) in one of the two slots and  
prise out the cover.  
WARNING  
Insert the box spanner (from the vehicle tool-  
kit) into the opening.  
Turn the box spanner clockwise as far as the  
stop 1 and then push it downwards 2 until it  
engages.  
Leave the box spanner inserted.  
Only use the launch control when road and  
traffic conditions permit, and make sure your  
driving style and acceleration do not incon-  
venience or endanger other road users. The  
driven wheels may start to spin, causing the  
vehicle to lose grip, in particular on slippery or  
wet roads – risk of accident!  
Reactivation of parking lock  
Take hold of the box spanner with both hands  
and pull it out carefully upwards.  
Replace the cover.  
CAUTION  
Accelerating with the launch control places  
a heavy load on all parts of the vehicle. This  
can result in increased wear and tear.  
WARNING  
Do not use the launch control when the ve-  
hicle is in towing mode as this could result  
in damage to the vehicle, trailer and load.  
The parking lock must only be released man-  
ually in order to recover/manoeuvre the ve-  
hicle.  
The parking lock must only be released man-  
ually when the vehicle is secured so that it  
cannot roll away ðpage 112. If you do not  
apply the brake, the vehicle may roll away  
and cause an accident.  
Note  
Some vehicle components may be hot after  
accelerating with the launch control. In this  
case, the function may not be available for  
several minutes. This is to avoid damage. The  
launch control will be available again after a  
cool-down period.  
Only use the manual release mechanism  
when the vehicle is on level ground or a  
slight gradient.  
You must not drive the vehicle if the parking  
brake has been released manually – risk of  
accident!  
Manual release of parking lock  
Driver messages  
The following driver messages may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
Gearbox: fault. Safely stop vehicle  
Do not drive on. Stop the vehicle in a safe place  
as soon as possible and secure it so that it cannot  
roll away ðpage 112. Seek professional assis-  
tance.  
Fig. 95 Footwell: Manual release of parking lock  
The manual release mechanism is located under  
the floor mat on the driver's side. Please observe  
the important safety warnings on towing vehicles  
away ðpage 362.  
Gearbox overheating: please stop vehicle  
116  
Driving  
Do not drive on. Secure the vehicle so that it can-  
not roll away ðpage 112. Seek professional as-  
sistance.  
A selector lever malfunction has occurred. Drive  
to a qualified workshop soon and have the fault  
rectified.  
Gearbox overheating: please adapt driving  
Selector lever: fault. Transmission mode can  
style  
only be changed using both paddle levers.  
The gearbox temperature has risen significantly.  
Drive more passively or take a break until the  
temperature is back to normal and the indicator  
lamp has gone out.  
A selector lever malfunction has occurred. You  
can continue driving but the selector lever is out  
of operation. The transmission positions can only  
be selected by simultaneously pulling both pad-  
dle levers briefly while the vehicle is stationary.  
Transmission position P will be selected automat-  
ically when you switch off the engine. Drive to a  
qualified workshop without delay and have the  
fault rectified.  
Gearbox malfunction: you can continue driv-  
ing. See owner's manual  
A gearbox malfunction has occurred. You can  
continue driving. However, you should drive to a  
qualified workshop soon and have the fault recti-  
fied.  
P button: fault. Auto P when power unit  
switched off. Please contact workshop  
Gearbox malfunction: you can continue driv-  
ing (functions limited). Please contact work-  
shop  
A malfunction has occurred on the P button on  
the selector lever. Transmission position P will be  
selected automatically when you switch off the  
engine. Drive to a qualified workshop without de-  
lay and have the fault rectified.  
A gearbox malfunction has occurred. The gearbox  
will switch to the back-up programme. The pro-  
gramme will only move into certain gears or may  
not be able to shift gears at all. The engine may  
stall. Drive to a qualified workshop without delay  
and have the fault rectified.  
Vehicle may roll! Cannot shift to P. Please  
apply parking brake  
The parking lock has been released manually  
ðpage 116. Or:  
Gearbox malfunction: no reverse gear. You  
can continue driving  
It is no longer possible to engage the parking  
lock. Drive to a qualified workshop without de-  
lay and have the fault rectified. Before leaving  
the vehicle, secure it to prevent it from rolling  
away ðpage 112.  
A gearbox malfunction has occurred. The gearbox  
will switch to the back-up programme. The pro-  
gramme will only move into certain gears or may  
not be able to shift gears at all. The engine may  
stall. You can no longer engage reverse gear.  
Drive to a qualified workshop without delay and  
have the fault rectified.  
Move selector lever into automatic position  
The gearbox is no longer in tiptronic mode.  
Please switch back to automatic mode using the  
selector lever ðpage 114.  
Gearbox malfunction: you can continue driv-  
ing in D until power unit off  
Engine  
A gearbox malfunction has occurred. The gearbox  
will switch to the back-up programme. If you  
switch off the engine, you will not be able to en-  
gage any other transmission positions after the  
engine is started again. Drive to a qualified work-  
shop without delay and have the fault rectified.  
Running in  
A new vehicle should be run in over the first  
1,500 km so that all moving parts can settle in  
together gently and the service life of the engine  
and other powertrain components can be in-  
creased.  
Selector lever: fault. You can continue driv-  
ing. Please contact workshop  
117  
Driving  
For the first 1,000 km, do not exceed two thirds  
of the engine’s maximum rpm speed and do not  
accelerate at full throttle. You can increase the  
engine speed gradually over the next 500 km.  
Depending on the equipment in your vehi-  
cle, coasting may only be possible when the  
cruise control system is active.  
Plug-in hybrid drive  
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive  
Conventional and mild hybrid drive  
Applies to: vehicles with conventional drive systems or mild  
hybrid drive  
On plug-in hybrid vehicles, you can choose be-  
tween electric and combustion engine drive  
modes or a combination of both ðpage 119,  
ðpage 115  
Vehicles with conventional drive systems or mild  
hybrid drive are powered by a combustion engine  
which burns fuel to generate energy.  
Coasting  
Vehicles with mild hybrid drive are equipped with  
additional battery technology.  
Just like conventional drive vehicles, the combus-  
tion engine can be disengaged on plug-in hybrid  
vehicles to save fuel. In this mode, which is simi-  
lar to coasting, the vehicle rolls without the en-  
gine braking effect. However, the electric part of  
the drive system remains engaged and is able to  
recuperate energy if the conditions permit.  
Coasting mode may be activated when you take  
your foot off the accelerator.  
Coasting  
Applies to: vehicles with coasting function  
Coasting can be used to save fuel. When the vehi-  
cle is coasting, the combustion engine is disen-  
gaged and the vehicle rolls without the engine  
braking effect. Coasting mode may be activated  
between 55 km/h and 160 km/h when you take  
your foot off the accelerator.  
Note  
Depending on the equipment fitted in the vehi-  
cle, you may be able to switch coasting mode  
on/off under Intelligent coasting in the Efficien-  
cy assist menu ðpage 190.  
Coasting is not possible in all driving pro-  
grams.  
Recuperation  
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive  
The combustion engine may be switched off au-  
tomatically on vehicles with mild hybrid drive  
when coasting is activated.  
A recuperation feature allows the vehicle to re-  
cover energy. A large amount of the kinetic ener-  
gy is thereby converted into electrical energy and  
stored in the battery of the hybrid drive system.  
The recuperation process causes the vehicle to  
decelerate in addition to the engine braking ef-  
fect. The recuperation process may be activated  
in transmission position D when you press the  
brake pedal or take your foot off the accelerator.  
WARNING  
When coasting is activated, there is no longer  
an engine braking effect and the vehicle does  
not slow down as quickly as usual or may even  
pick up speed if you are driving down a slope –  
risk of accident!  
Note  
Because the recuperation feature is used to slow  
the vehicle down when you press the brake pedal,  
the brakes are only used in addition as necessary.  
This means that, by adopting a moderate driving  
style, it is possible to brake the vehicle almost  
down to a standstill using the recuperation func-  
tion.  
You can cancel coasting by applying the ac-  
celerator or brakes. Slight corrective brake  
applications are also possible without can-  
celling coasting.  
Coasting is not possible in all driving pro-  
grams.  
118  
Driving  
Battery Charge – The vehicle is powered by  
Recuperation settings  
the combustion engine in order to charge the  
high-voltage battery. This results in a higher fuel  
consumption. The high-voltage battery is not  
charged when driving in urban areas. This mode  
cannot be selected if the high-voltage battery is  
charged sufficiently.  
Under Intelligent coasting in the Efficiency as-  
sist menu, you can set whether the recuperation  
is controlled predictively*, i.e. in anticipation of  
the route ahead ðpage 190.  
WARNING  
When is displayed, the navigation system’s  
route guidance is active and the vehicle uses the  
route data to determine which type of drive to  
use. The vehicle is able to achieve the most effi-  
cient driving mode by calculating which sections  
of the route are best driven on electric power.  
Electric power is given priority on sections which  
it anticipates will be covered at low speed, such  
as towns or congested traffic areas.  
In certain situations, the recuperation func-  
tion can brake the vehicle in anticipation of  
the route or traffic ahead; however the recu-  
peration braking effect is limited. Always be  
ready to apply the brakes – risk of accident!  
Note  
When the ESC is restricted or switched off,  
the automatic recuperation is unavailable and  
there will be no braking effect.  
Electric driving  
The button lights up in green when the vehi-  
cle is in EV mode. The vehicle can be powered by  
the electric motor if the conditions for this have  
been met ðpage 119, Conditions for electric  
driving.  
Plug-in hybrid mode  
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive  
Switching to and from plug-in hybrid mode  
The button is located in the function bar on  
You can specify whether the journey should al-  
ways begin in electric mode:  
the lower display.  
Press to switch between electric driving and  
Applies to MMI: On the home screen, select  
hybrid driving.  
CAR > Charging & efficiency > e-tron mode >  
Always start in EV mode (electric driving).  
Hybrid driving  
If the button is not lit, the vehicle is in hybrid  
mode. The vehicle can be powered by the com-  
bustion engine or the electric motor if the condi-  
tions for this have been met ðpage 119, Condi-  
tions for electric driving.  
Conditions for electric driving  
The charge level and temperature of the high-  
voltage battery must be sufficient.  
Driving program S must not be selected.  
The road speed must be below 140 km/h.  
The accelerator pedal must not be pressed too  
heavily.  
Depending on the engine, you can choose be-  
tween different hybrid modes:  
Applies to MMI: On the home screen, select  
Indicator lamps  
CAR > Charging & efficiency > e-tron mode.  
The following indicator lamps may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
Auto Hybrid – The electric motor and combus-  
tion engine work together efficiently. This mode  
is particularly suitable for long journeys.  
Battery Hold – The vehicle is powered pre-  
dominantly by the combustion engine in order to  
preserve the charge level of the high-voltage bat-  
tery as much as possible.  
119  
Driving  
Applies to MMI: On the home screen, select  
CAR > Vehicle information.  
If necessary, scroll to the Energy flow display.  
Symbol Meaning  
EV mode is switched on and active.  
You are driving purely on electric  
power.  
1
Combustion engine  
EV mode is switched on but is tem-  
porarily in stand-by mode. Electric  
driving will be activated as soon as  
the conditions have been met.  
Orange: Engine on  
Grey: Engine off  
2
3
High-voltage battery  
Green: Charge level  
EV mode is not available because  
the conditions for electric driving  
have not been met.  
Grey: Drive system not switched on  
Movement arrow  
Green: Electric driving  
Orange: Driving with combustion engine  
Green/orange: Driving with boost function  
Movement arrow  
The combustion engine is running.  
Hybrid mode Battery Hold is active.  
Hybrid mode Auto Hybrid is active.  
4
Hybrid mode Auto Hybrid is active.  
Navigation data are being taken into  
consideration.  
Green: Recuperation  
Note  
Hybrid mode Battery Charge is ac-  
tive.  
The energy flow can also be displayed in the  
vehicle functions tab in the instrument clus-  
ter.  
Note  
It is still possible for the charge level of the  
high-voltage battery to drop in Battery  
Charge and Battery Hold mode, depending  
on how the vehicle is driven.  
Range monitor  
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive  
Navigation data are not taken into consider-  
ation if the map material is out of date.  
EV mode may be deactivated if you select a  
navigation destination outside the electric  
range.  
Fig. 97 Range monitor  
Energy flow display  
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive  
You can display the estimated vehicle range.  
Applies to MMI: On the home screen, select  
CAR > Vehicle information.  
If necessary, scroll to the Range monitor dis-  
play.  
1
2
3
4
5
Range potential (value)  
Range potential (diagram)  
Total range (diagram)  
Total range (value)  
Fig. 96 MMI: Energy flow display  
You can display the current energy distribution in  
the vehicle.  
Electrical range (value)  
Range potential: This value indicates the dis-  
tance which you can cover in addition by  
120  
Driving  
switching off certain convenience functions. Con-  
venience functions with high energy consumption  
are listed in the display.  
WARNING  
Other road users may not hear an electric ve-  
hicle when it is moving. This applies in partic-  
ular in areas with traffic calming measures,  
when manoeuvring or reversing – risk of acci-  
dent!  
Note  
The range can also be displayed in the on-  
board computer in the instrument cluster.  
The range shown depends on the previous  
consumption values and a forecast. These  
may be affected e.g. if convenience func-  
tions are switched on.  
Driving in an efficient and environmentally  
conscious way  
Fuel and energy economy, environmental impact  
and wear on the power unit, brakes and tyres de-  
pend largely on the way you drive the vehicle. You  
can drive in an efficient and environmentally con-  
scious way by considering the following tips:  
Statistics  
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive  
Statistics on the MMI  
Applies to: vehicles with e-tron statistics on MMI  
Select efficiency mode in Audi drive select*.  
Switch off any electric equipment you do not  
need (e.g. seat heating*).  
You can display statistics on the distance driven  
under electric power and using fuel. The values  
are supplied by the on-board computer's short-  
term and long-term memories.  
Anticipate the traffic conditions to avoid unnec-  
essary acceleration and braking.  
Avoid driving at high speeds.  
On the home screen, select CAR > Car details.  
Remove ballast, such as roof racks or rear carri-  
ers, when not needed.  
If necessary, scroll to the e-tron short term  
statistics or e-tron long term statistics display.  
Make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct  
pressure.  
1)  
Statistics in the myAudi app  
Have the vehicle serviced regularly.  
Do not leave the engine running while the car is  
stopped.  
If the e-tron statistics on the MMI are not availa-  
ble for your vehicle, you can see the percentage  
driven with electric power in the myAudi app in  
some countries.  
Do not use winter tyres in summer.  
Make use of the start/stop system.  
Make use of the engine braking effect.  
Avoid short trips.  
Note  
The values shown on the MMI are intended as  
a guide and may differ from the actual values.  
Note  
Sporty driving can lead to significantly higher  
noise emissions. Please therefore be aware of  
your social responsibilities and consider the  
environment and those around you, particu-  
larly at night.  
Vehicle sound  
Electric motors are much quieter than combus-  
tion engines. To make the vehicle more audible  
when driving under electric power, an artificial  
vehicle sound is produced on models for some  
countries. The vehicle sound is faded out at high-  
er speeds.  
Energy management  
Your vehicle is equipped with a smart energy  
management system to control the distribution  
1)  
The function/equipment described was in the planning  
phase at the time of publication and may not be available.  
121  
Driving  
of electrical energy. This significantly improves  
reliability when starting the engine, and also pro-  
longs the life of the vehicle battery.  
available, for example. Please note any further  
messages in the instrument cluster.  
Start/stop system  
Note  
Description  
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system  
If the vehicle is driven frequently on short  
trips, the battery may not be sufficiently  
charged while driving. In this case, certain  
convenience functions for electrical equip-  
ment may be temporarily unavailable.  
If the vehicle is left standing for long peri-  
ods, or if electrical equipment is used with-  
out running the engine, the battery will  
gradually lose its charge. To ensure that the  
vehicle can be started, the electrical equip-  
ment is powered back or switched off.  
The start/stop system can help to save fuel and  
reduce CO emissions. In start/stop mode, the  
2
engine is switched off automatically when the ve-  
hicle stops, e.g. at traffic lights.  
If certain conditions are met, the engine may be  
switched off before the vehicle has come to a  
standstill. If the accelerator pedal is pressed in  
this case, the engine starts and delivers power  
again.  
The ignition and important supporting systems,  
e.g. the brake servo, remain available during the  
stop phase. The engine is automatically started  
on demand.  
Driver messages  
The following driver messages may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
The start/stop system is automatically activated  
each time you switch on the ignition.  
Drive system: fault. Safely stop vehicle  
A malfunction has occurred in the drive system.  
The brake servo and the power steering system  
could stop working. Stop your vehicle as soon as  
possible. Do not drive on. Before leaving the vehi-  
cle, secure it to prevent it from rolling away  
ðpage 112. You should have the fault rectified  
by a qualified workshop.  
Switching the start/stop system off and on  
The button is located in the centre console  
above the selector lever. The button lights up  
when the function is switched off.  
Press to switch the function on/off.  
If you switch off the system during a stop phase,  
the engine will start again automatically.  
Drive system: fault. Please contact work-  
shop  
Basic conditions  
A malfunction has occurred in the drive system.  
The power output is limited. Drive slowly to a  
qualified workshop and have the fault rectified.  
The driver's door and bonnet must be closed.  
Transmission position P, N or D must be selec-  
ted.  
Vehicle sound: fault. Vehicle inaudible to pe-  
The steering wheel must be relatively straight.  
The vehicle must have been moving at over  
3 km/h since the last stop.  
destrians. Please contact workshop  
A vehicle sound fault has occurred. Drive ex-  
tremely carefully, as other road users may not be  
able to hear the vehicle under electric power.  
Drive to a qualified workshop without delay and  
have the fault rectified.  
CAUTION  
Always switch off the start/stop system  
ðpage 122 before driving through water.  
Further indicator lamps  
If lights up, the driving performance is re-  
stricted as the combustion engine may not be  
122  
Driving  
Automatic engine start/stop  
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system  
Note  
In certain situations, the engine may stop  
earlier while the vehicle is still coasting. A  
direct transition from coasting mode* to a  
stop phase is thus possible ðpage 118,  
ðpage 118.  
Before and during each stop phase, the system  
checks that certain conditions have been met and  
decides whether to switch off the engine and for  
how long. For instance, the engine is not switch-  
ed off if the power consumption is high. Whether  
or not the engine is started/stopped automatical-  
ly depends on factors such as the following:  
If you select transmission position D after  
selecting reverse gear, the car must have  
been moving at over 10 km/h before the  
system can switch off the engine again. This  
allows you to manoeuvre the vehicle with-  
out the engine being switched off.  
Ambient conditions (downhill/uphill gradient,  
altitude and temperature)  
Battery (charge level, temperature and power  
consumption)  
Switching off/starting the engine  
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system  
Engine temperature  
Driver assist systems  
Driving style  
Apply the brakes and keep your foot on the  
brake pedal until the vehicle is stationary. The  
indicator lamp will appear in the instrument  
cluster as soon as the engine has been switched  
off automatically.  
The engine will start again automatically when  
you take your foot off the brake pedal. The indi-  
cator lamp will go out.  
Driver messages  
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system  
The following driver messages may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
Drive system: please start vehicle manually  
If the parking brake is applied or the hold assist*  
is switched on, the engine will only restart when  
you press the accelerator pedal.  
This message appears if certain conditions have  
not been met during the stop phase and the  
start/stop system cannot start the engine again  
START ENGINE STOP  
automatically. The  
button  
Note  
must be used to start the engine.  
Keep your foot on the brake pedal during a  
stop phase to prevent the vehicle from mov-  
ing.  
Vehicle start system: fault. Please contact work-  
shop  
START ENGINE STOP  
If you press the  
but-  
A malfunction has occurred in the start/stop sys-  
tem. Drive to a workshop soon and have the fault  
rectified.  
ton during a stop phase, the ignition will be  
switched off.  
If you briefly leave the vehicle during a stop  
phase and then get back in, you will need to  
close the driver's door and fasten your seat  
belt for the engine to start again.  
Brakes  
General information  
You can control whether or not the engine is  
switched off by varying the amount of pres-  
sure on the brake pedal. For instance, if you  
brake gently in stop-and-go traffic or before  
turning off at a junction, the engine will re-  
main on while the vehicle is at a standstill.  
As soon as you press the brake pedal harder,  
the engine will be switched off.  
You can use the brake pedal to slow the vehicle  
down.  
Noises  
Brake noise may develop in certain situations, de-  
pending on the speed, braking force and ambient   
123  
Driving  
Ceramic brakes  
Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brakes  
conditions (such as temperature and relative hu-  
midity).  
Ceramic brakes provide excellent braking per-  
formance.  
Braking effect  
To ensure an optimum braking effect, the brake  
pads are applied to the brake discs briefly at high  
speeds when the windscreen wipers are on.  
When new, ceramic brake discs can take much  
longer to bed in than normal brake discs. In addi-  
tion, noises may occur, particularly at low speeds,  
due to the properties of the material. Ceramic  
brake discs absorb more moisture in extremely  
wet weather. This can cause a temporary reduc-  
tion in braking performance in comparison to dry  
brakes. You can compensate for this by applying  
greater pressure to the brake.  
If the brake system is wet, e.g. after driving in  
heavy rain, the braking effect may be delayed.  
Further causes of a temporary increase in brake  
response time include:  
Wet conditions  
Low temperatures, ice and snow  
Salted roads  
Multicollision brake assist system  
Dirty brake pads  
The multicollision brake assist system can help to  
reduce the risk of skidding and further collisions  
during an accident. If the airbag control unit de-  
tects that a collision has taken place, the ESC sys-  
tem applies the brakes.  
Corrosion  
Corrosion can form on the brake discs if the car is  
used infrequently, or if you only drive low mile-  
ages. In this case, you can clean the brake discs  
by braking firmly a few times from a moderately  
The vehicle will not be braked automatically if:  
high speed ð  
.
you apply the accelerator, or  
Applies to vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Use  
transmission position N to do so, to prevent the  
recuperation function from being used for brak-  
ing.  
the brake pressure applied by pressing the  
brake pedal is higher than the brake pressure  
initiated by the system, or  
the ESC, the brake system or the vehicle's elec-  
trical system are not fully functional.  
Brake pads  
New brake pads do not give full braking effect for  
the first 400 km, they must first be “bedded in”.  
However, you can compensate for the slightly re-  
duced braking effect by applying more pressure  
on the brake pedal. Avoid placing a heavy load on  
the brakes during the running-in period.  
WARNING  
When applying the brakes to clean off de-  
posits on the pads and discs, select a clear,  
dry road. Be sure not to endanger other road  
users; do not risk an accident.  
All brake repairs must be carried out by a  
qualified workshop working to the specifica-  
tions of the Audi factory – risk of injury! Im-  
proper repairs can also impair the function  
of the system.  
Applies to vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Be-  
cause recuperation is also used for braking, new  
brake pads take 800 km to bed in.  
The rate of wear on the brake pads depends a  
great deal on how you drive and the conditions in  
which the vehicle is operated. For example, the  
rate of wear will increase if the vehicle is used  
frequently in city traffic, for short distances, or  
for hard driving with abrupt starts and stops.  
Never let the car coast with the engine  
switched off (this can cause accidents).  
If a braking manoeuvre is initiated by the ve-  
hicle, the brake pedal may move automati-  
cally towards the floor. Do not rest your foot  
underneath the brake pedal – risk of injury!  
124  
Driving  
usual. Drive to a qualified workshop without de-  
lay and have the fault rectified.  
CAUTION  
Never let the brakes “drag” by leaving your  
foot on the pedal when you do not really in-  
tend to brake. This can cause the brakes to  
overheat, resulting in longer stopping dis-  
tances and greater wear.  
Brake servo will be deactivated shortly. See  
owner's manual  
The brake servo remains active for a short time  
after the ignition is switched off. Secure the vehi-  
cle so that it cannot roll away ðpage 112.  
Please observe the important safety warn-  
ings on driving on gradients ðpage 128.  
This is especially important when towing a  
trailer or caravan.  
Further indicator lamps  
– The brakes have been used intensively while  
driving downhill for an extended period. Follow  
the instructions in the driver message to use the  
engine braking effect and take the load off the  
brakes.  
Note  
If you wish to equip the car with accessories  
such as a front spoiler or wheel covers, it is  
important that the flow of air to the brakes  
is not obstructed; otherwise the brakes can  
overheat.  
WARNING  
If the ABS, ESC and brake force distribution  
systems fail, input from the functions that  
stabilise the vehicle is no longer available.  
This could cause the vehicle to skid sideways.  
Do not drive on. Seek professional assistance.  
Please also observe the information on  
brake fluid ðpage 329.  
Driver messages  
The following driver messages may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
Electromechanical  
parking brake  
Operating the parking brake  
Brakes: fault. Safely stop vehicle  
The electromechanical parking brake is intended  
to prevent the vehicle from rolling away acciden-  
tally.  
A malfunction has occurred in the brake system.  
If and also light up, this means that the  
ABS, ESC and brake force distribution systems  
have failed. You need to apply much more force  
to operate the brakes if the brake servo fails.  
The button is located in the centre console be-  
low the selector lever. It lights up when the park-  
ing brake is engaged. You can release the parking  
brake manually or automatically when you drive  
off.  
Do not drive on. Seek professional assistance.  
Please refer to the additional safety information  
ð
.
Brake pads: wear limit reached. You can con-  
Applying and releasing the parking brake  
tinue driving. Please contact workshop  
Applying: Pull the button.  
The brake pads are worn. Drive to a qualified  
When appears, the parking brake is keeping  
workshop soon and have the brake pads checked.  
the vehicle stationary. You can now take your  
foot off the brake pedal.  
Releasing: With the ignition switched on, press  
Brake servo: restricted. You can continue  
driving. Please contact workshop  
and hold the brake pedal and press the but-  
There is a malfunction in the brake servo. The  
brake servo remains available with reduced ca-  
pacity. The brakes may perform differently than  
ton.  
If the red warning lamp flashes, insufficient brak-  
ing force has been applied or released. When you  
park the vehicle, you should select transmission  
125  
Driving  
position P or press the brake pedal in addition to  
stop it from moving. Make sure that the warning  
lamp has gone out before you drive off.  
Hold assist  
Applies to: vehicles with hold assist  
If the vehicle is regularly stationary, for example,  
at traffic lights, on inclines or in stop-start traf-  
fic, this system can help you to move off easily.  
Releasing the parking brake automatically  
when driving off  
Important: The driver’s door must be closed, the  
driver’s seat belt must be buckled and the indica-  
tor lamp must be on.  
Switching the hold assist on/off  
The button is located in the centre console be-  
low the selector lever. It lights up when the sys-  
tem is switched on.  
Press the accelerator to drive off.  
To switch the hold assist on/off, press the  
button.  
WARNING  
Always ensure that the vehicle is stopped  
properly and safely – risk of accident!  
Driving off with the hold assist  
If the parking brake is engaged, it may be re-  
leased automatically if the accelerator pedal  
is pressed. Take care when pressing the ac-  
celerator pedal and always select position P  
when you park the vehicle – risk of accident!  
If the electrical power supply fails, it is not  
possible to apply the parking brake (if it was  
released) or to release the parking brake (if  
it was applied). Before leaving the vehicle,  
secure it to prevent it from rolling away  
ðpage 112. Seek professional assistance.  
Important: The driver's door must be closed, the  
engine must be running or capable of starting  
automatically and transmission position D must  
be selected.  
With the vehicle stationary, press and hold the  
brake pedal for a few seconds.  
When appears, the hold assist is keeping  
the vehicle stationary. You can now take your  
foot off the brake pedal.  
Press the accelerator pedal to drive off.  
In certain situations, the hold assist may transfer  
the job of holding the vehicle to the parking  
brake.  
Note  
The vehicle may roll backwards on steep in-  
clines when moving off, especially when  
towing a trailer or caravan. To prevent this  
from happening, pull the button and  
hold it while you press the accelerator. Once  
enough power has been built up at the  
wheels to ensure that the vehicle will not  
roll back, release the button to drive off.  
The parking brake will be applied automati-  
cally if you leave your vehicle while trans-  
mission position D or R is selected.  
The hold assist is switched off when the vehicle is  
being manoeuvred. Press the brake pedal to hold  
the vehicle. The system is switched on again as  
soon as you drive faster than approx. 10 km/h in  
transmission position D.  
WARNING  
The hold assist function cannot keep the ve-  
hicle stationary in all conditions on a gradi-  
ent (e.g. if the road is slippery or icy). Always  
be ready to apply the brakes when using the  
hold assist function.  
Any noises heard when the parking brake is  
applied or released are quite normal and no  
cause for concern.  
Always ensure that the vehicle is stopped  
properly and safely – risk of accident!  
The parking brake runs an automatic test  
cycle at regular intervals when the vehicle is  
parked. This may cause a slight noise, which  
is normal.  
CAUTION  
Switch off the hold assist function before  
driving the vehicle into a tunnel car wash to  
126  
Driving  
prevent the parking brake from being applied  
automatically.  
tinue driving. Before leaving the vehicle, secure it  
to prevent it from rolling away ðpage 112. Seek  
professional assistance.  
Note  
Parking brake: fault. Please contact work-  
When the hold assist function is switched on,  
the system stops the vehicle from creeping  
forwards when you take your foot off the  
brake pedal.  
shop  
There is a malfunction in the parking brake. Drive  
to a qualified workshop without delay to have the  
fault rectified. Do not park the car on a gradient.  
Select transmission position P.  
Emergency braking function  
Parking brake: caution! Vehicle parked too  
steep  
You should only use the emergency braking func-  
tion in a real emergency, for example if the brake  
system were to fail or if the brake pedal were to  
be obstructed. If you use the emergency braking  
function, this has the same effect as heavy brak-  
ing.  
The braking force may not be sufficient to pre-  
vent the vehicle from rolling away. Park the vehi-  
cle at a location with a gradient that is less steep.  
Parking brake is applied  
Pull and hold the button while the vehicle is  
moving.  
A warning buzzer will sound and the emergency  
braking procedure will be triggered.  
The parking brake is applied. Press and hold the  
brake pedal and release the parking brake.  
Please take over.  
If you press the accelerator pedal, the emer-  
gency braking procedure will be cancelled.  
The vehicle can no longer be held stationary.  
Press the brake to prevent the vehicle from roll-  
ing away.  
WARNING  
Special driving situations  
Heavy braking in corners or in bad road or  
weather conditions can cause the vehicle to  
skid or lose steering control – risk of accident!  
Performance driving  
Applies to: RS model  
The vehicle, in particular the power unit, gear-  
box, tyres, brakes and suspension, is subjected to  
heavy loads during performance driving (such as  
on a racing circuit). When used in this way, addi-  
tional service and inspection work is required and  
it may be necessary to replace components earli-  
er than usual.  
Driver messages  
The following driver messages may appear, de-  
pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-  
cle:  
Parking brake: fault. Safely stop vehicle. See  
owner's manual  
Your vehicle has been developed and approved  
for use on public roads. It is therefore only possi-  
ble to drive the vehicle on a racing circuit for a  
limited mileage.  
Parking brake: fault. Please release parking  
brake  
If one of these two messages appears, there is a  
parking brake fault. If this message appears  
while the vehicle is stationary, check whether the  
parking brake can be released and reapplied. If  
so, switch the ignition off and on again.  
Please contact a qualified workshop. Have the  
workshop check the suitability of your vehicle for  
use on a racing circuit and make sure you are fa-  
miliar with the current regulations. The following  
are among the special considerations that apply:  
If the driver message still appears, if the parking  
brake cannot be released or if the driver message  
appears while the vehicle is moving, do not con-  
127  
Driving  
The boiling point of the brake fluid must be  
within the specified tolerance range.  
New brake pads take time to bed in  
ðpage 123.  
Driving on hills and gradients  
Please follow the tips below when driving on hills  
and gradients or at high altitudes:  
The tyres, brake system, brake pads and brake  
discs must be in good condition.  
Drive slowly and be ready for possible hazards.  
Do not try to turn round if you can’t make it up  
a hill or gradient. Instead, drive back down in  
reverse gear.  
On the racing circuit  
Do not exceed two thirds of the engine’s maxi-  
mum rpm speed until the engine is warm. The  
engine oil should be brought up to a tempera-  
ture of at least 70 °C.  
When driving down steep gradients, the down-  
hill speed control function may be activated if  
you press the brake pedal while in transmission  
position D. The automatic gearbox will then se-  
lect a suitable gear for the gradient and will at-  
tempt to maintain the speed at which the vehi-  
cle was travelling when the brakes were ap-  
plied. You should still continue to use the  
brakes as necessary. Downhill speed control is  
deactivated as soon as the road levels out again  
or you accelerate.  
Check the tyre pressures when the tyres are  
warm and adjust them if necessary.  
Use the following functions as required:  
Audi drive select* dynamic mode ðpage 131  
Launch control ðpage 115  
Restrict the ESC ðpage 137  
When driving down steep gradients, use the en-  
gine braking effect by selecting driving pro-  
gram S ðpage 114. This is especially important  
when towing a trailer or caravan. This will re-  
duce the load on the brakes.  
After driving on a racing circuit  
Before you park the vehicle, you should allow  
the engine and brakes to cool down to the nor-  
mal operating temperature by adopting a more  
moderate driving style.  
Try not to stay on the brakes; apply them peri-  
odically.  
Check the brake pads using a suitable method.  
Heavily inclined wear can only be discerned by  
means of a visual check. This is not fully possi-  
ble from the outside.  
If necessary, use the hold assist ðpage 126.  
If necessary, use the downhill assist  
ðpage 130.  
Check the tyre pressures when the tyres are  
cold and adjust them if necessary.  
Tilt angle display  
Applies to: vehicles with tilt angle display  
WARNING  
You can display the transverse and longitudinal  
tilt angle relative to the horizon.  
A dynamic driving style will result in in-  
creased wear, especially on the tyres and  
components of the drive system and sus-  
pension.  
Applies to MMI: On the home screen, select  
CAR > Vehicle information.  
If necessary, scroll to the Tilt angle display.  
Driving a vehicle at its limits requires that  
particular care be taken with regard to the  
condition and handling of the vehicle, the  
driving situation and the dangers involved –  
risk of accident!  
The transverse tilt angle of your vehicle should  
never exceed the yellow zone on the scale. There  
is a risk that the vehicle may overturn when, or  
even before, the arrows enter the red zone.  
Always ensure that the vehicle is in perfect  
condition.  
The steering angle, altitude, compass direction  
and coordinates of the vehicle's current position  
are displayed in addition to the current tilt angle.  
You are also provided with information on the  
maximum transverse and longitudinal tilt angles   
Note  
Wear caused by heavy loads does not consti-  
tute a defect under the terms of the warranty.  
128  
Driving  
achieved during the current trip. The values are  
reset when you switch off the ignition.  
the design of the car and your own driving  
skills and experience.  
Please note that the accuracy of the display de-  
pends on the driving situation.  
For the sake of the environment  
Take care not to damage the environment and  
respect natural surroundings. Keep to the  
marked tracks and routes.  
WARNING  
Drive only on gradients for which your vehi-  
cle is designed. Do not exceed the vehicle’s  
available climbing power. Your vehicle could  
tip over or slide away.  
Note  
Wash your vehicle after driving it off-road.  
Dirt and stones falling from the car can be a  
hazard to other road users.  
Keep the vehicle straight when driving on  
steep hills and gradients. If your vehicle is in  
danger of tipping over, you must steer in the  
direction of the gradient immediately – risk  
of accident!  
Driving through water  
If you cannot avoid driving on a flooded road, you  
should follow the advice below:  
Always be ready to apply the brakes when  
using the downhill speed control.  
Applies to vehicles with tilt angle display:  
Do not rely exclusively on the tilt angle dis-  
play when assessing the driving situation.  
Check the type of road surface under the water,  
the strength of the current and the depth of  
the water. The water must not be higher than  
the vehicle's underbody, even allowing for  
landslides, strong currents and waves.  
Deactivate the start/stop system.  
Drive carefully and not faster than walking pace  
so that any waves created by the movement of  
the car do not splash over the underbody. Bear  
in mind that waves can also be created by on-  
coming traffic.  
Driving off-road  
Your car is not an off-road vehicle. Please there-  
fore note the following if you drive the vehicle on  
unsurfaced tracks or off-road:  
Drive slowly and be ready for possible hazards.  
Take the ground clearance of your vehicle into  
account and do not drive the bottom of your ve-  
hicle directly over raised obstacles. Instead,  
drive the wheels on one side of the car up and  
across the top of the obstacle to prevent dam-  
age to the underbody.  
Do not stop the car in water.  
Do not drive in reverse.  
Do not switch off the engine.  
WARNING  
When driving over sand or soft mud, maintain a  
moderate speed. The vehicle will be less likely  
to get stuck if you avoid stopping.  
After driving through water, carefully apply  
the brakes to dry them and restore the full  
braking power.  
Use the following functions as required:  
CAUTION  
Audi drive select* offroad mode ðpage 131  
Downhill assist function* ðpage 130  
Tilt angle display* ðpage 128  
Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, gearbox, run-  
ning gear or electrical components) can be  
badly damaged when driving through water.  
Raise the vehicle ðpage 132  
Restrict the ESC ðpage 137  
Note  
Avoid driving through salt water to prevent  
corrosion. If any vehicle parts come into con-  
tact with salt water, rinse them with fresh wa-  
ter.  
WARNING  
When driving off-road you are advised to  
avoid tracks or terrain which are not suited to  
129  
Driving  
Downhill assist function  
Applies to: vehicles with downhill assist function  
The button is located in the function bar on  
the lower display. It lights up when the system is  
switched on.  
The downhill assist function can help you to drive  
down steep gradients by applying the brakes au-  
tomatically on all four wheels to maintain a con-  
stant speed. You can use the accelerator and  
brake pedals to control the speed. How the regu-  
lating function operates depends on the gradient  
and road speed.  
To switch on: Press .  
To switch off: Press again.  
When is the regulating function active?  
The regulating function is active shortly after you  
drive off and up to a speed of approx. 30 km/h on  
gradients of approx. 6 – 60 %. When these condi-  
tions are met, the regulating function is active  
and the indicator lamp  
lights up.  
Standby mode  
If one of the conditions for the regulating func-  
tion has not been met, the system is in standby  
mode. The indicator lamp  
may light up. The  
system can revert to active regulation as soon as  
the conditions have been met again.  
WARNING  
Always be ready to apply the brakes when  
using the downhill assist function.  
Always adjust the speed to suit the vision,  
weather, road and traffic conditions. The  
system cannot replace the full concentra-  
tion of the driver.  
The system cannot keep your vehicle's speed  
constant under all circumstances when you  
are driving down a hill, e.g. if the road is  
slippery – risk of accident!  
Note  
If you set Audi drive select* to offroad mode,  
the downhill assist function will be switched  
on.  
130