Audi A3  Setting off  Automatic gearbox  S tronic
Applies to vehicles: with S tronic gearbox/paddle levers
The tiptronic feature allows the driver to also change gears manually.
Gear selection with selector lever
The tiptronic mode can be selected either with the vehicle stationary or on the move.
From position D/S, push the selector lever to the right into the tiptronic selector gate to activate tiptronic mode. As soon as the automatic gearbox has activated this mode, the letter M will appear on the display Fig. 3; e.g. M4 means that the vehicle is in 4th gear.
Briefly push the selector lever forwards -+- Fig. 1 to change up a gear.
Briefly pull the selector lever back -–- to change down a gear.
Gear selection with paddle levers*
You can use the paddle levers when the selector lever is in position D/S or M (= tiptronic selector gate).
To shift up a gear, briefly pull the paddle lever -+- Fig. 2.
To shift down a gear, briefly pull the paddle lever -–-.
If you use the paddle levers when the selector lever is in positions D/S, the gearbox will remain in manual mode for a while. To switch back immediately to automatic mode after changing gears manually, pull the paddle lever -+- Fig. 2 for approximately 1 second.
If you want to use the paddle levers permanently, push the selector lever from position D/S to the right into the tiptronic selector gate.
The gearbox automatically shifts up or down into the next gear before a critical engine speed is reached.
The gearbox only allows manual gear changes if the engine speed would remain within the permissible range.

All images, logos and text are property of © Audi. This site has no relationship with the company Volkswagen - Audi Spain nor any of its affiliates worldwide. For more information.