Manufactured by the Japanese Aisin company, Q-System, when combined with Alfa Romeo�s 2.5 litre V6 engine in the 156, provides all the expected comfort, relaxation and smoothness of an automatic; plus the excitement and sporting demeanour of a true Alfa Romeo. All the driver has to do is choose, and move the gear lever appropriately. There are further refinements to the system, however. When the lever is positioned to the right, in Automatic, the driver can select one of three different pre-programmed driving modes: City, Sport and Ice. These are selected via two buttons positioned at the base of the gearlever, and the selections are indicated on a VDU inset into the rev counter.
Alternatively, if clutchless manual control is preferred, all the driver has to do is to move the lever to the left, where it slots into a traditional, four speed H-gate arrangement. With the lever to the right, the driver selects Automatic, with four options available - Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive - by moving the lever forwards and backwards. From the �D� (Drive) position, it is possible at any time to shift the lever over to the left and access the four-speed H-gate manual option. Reverse, the engagement of which is accompanied by an acoustic warning signal, can only be accessed in Automatic.
Q-System�s advantages in Automatic include smooth progress and low rpm gearchanges in City mode; and enhanced acceleration, engine braking, and gearchanges at substantially higher engine speeds in Sport mode. Selection of �Ice� reduces the possibility of wheelspin by using second gear as the starting ratio, and promoting an exceptionally smooth take-off. In Manual, full control of the vehicle is returned to the driver, but the system nevertheless prevents access to too low a gear at too high an engine speed.
Q-SYSTEM IN USE
When the car is stationary, the brake pedal must be depressed in order to engage any of the gears. A locking shift-ring immediately below the gearknob must be raised while the driver�s foot remains on the brake pedal so that the gearshift can be moved out of �P� (Park) position, and in to �D� (Drive) or �R� (Reverse).
ON THE MOVE
With the gearshift set to �D�, the system automatically engages the most suitable gear according to the driving mode selected.
DRIVING MODES: CITY, SPORT AND ICE
City and Sport modes are selected by pressing the two-position button at the base of the gearshift: either C or S. This is possible at any speed and with the car stopped (but with the ignition on). Ice mode is accessed via a second button, and cancels existing modes. It is only active at speeds of less than 28mph and automatically cuts out at 50mph.
SWITCHING TO MANUAL
To switch to Manual, the gearshift must be moved to the left and the required gear engaged. The system will accept this command, so long as engine revs are neither too high nor too low for the gear selected. In the case of an inappropriate gear being selected, the system will over-ride that command. An acoustic warning informs the driver and the system will remain in the existing gear. If the command is not changed, the unit will store the request in its memory and will access that gear as soon as engine speed permits it.
STOPPING
When the car is stationary, the gearshift must be pushed to the right and then into N (Neutral). If the lever is engaged in Drive or Reverse, the car will creep forward or backwards unless the footbrake is applied.
DESCENDING STEEP HILLS
When going downhill in Automatic, and assuming the driver�s foot is off the accelerator and on the footbrake, the transmission changes down automatically, so as to maximise engine braking.
PARKING AND LEAVING THE CAR
With the car stationary and with pressure on the footbrake, the ignition key can be turned to its �Off �setting and the gearshift moved into �P� (Park). Then the handbrake must be applied. The solenoid will then be released after approximately two seconds, allowing the ignition key to be removed. If the gearshift is left in any other setting - �R� �N� or �D� the key cannot be removed and an acoustic warning sounds as the driver�s door is opened, reminding the driver that the car is being left in an incorrect gear - and also that the key is still in the ignition.
