Driving and operating 175Brake assistIf brake pedal is depressed quicklyand forcefully, maximum brake forceis automatically applied.Operation of brake assist mightbecome apparent by a pulse in thebrake pedal and a greater resistancewhen depressing the brake pedal.Maintain steady pressure on thebrake pedal as long as full braking isrequired. Maximum brake force isautomatically reduced when brakepedal is released.Hill start assistThe system helps prevent unintendedmovement when driving away oninclines.When releasing the brake pedal afterstopping on an incline, brakes remainon for further two seconds. Thebrakes release automatically as soonas the vehicle begins to accelerate.Ride control systemsTraction Control systemThe Traction Control system (TC) is acomponent of the Electronic StabilityControl (ESC).TC improves driving stability whennecessary, regardless of the type ofroad surface or tyre grip, bypreventing the drive wheels fromspinning.As soon as the drive wheels starts tospin, engine output is reduced andthe wheel spinning the most is brakedindividually. This considerablyimproves the driving stability of thevehicle on slippery road surfaces.TC is operational after each enginestart as soon as the control indicatorb extinguishes.When TC operates b flashes.9 WarningDo not let this special safetyfeature tempt you into taking riskswhen driving.Adapt speed to the roadconditions.Control indicator b 3 110.DeactivationTC can be switched off when spinningof drive wheels is required: press bbriefly.