Abstract:
A transmission control system for a vehicle (10) is disclosed comprising a continuously variable transmission (CVT) (14) whose transmission ratio is varied by a CVT controller (20). When the selector lever (24) is in drive D, the CVT controller (20) varies the transmission ratio in a continuous manner but, if a stepped down-shift is selected using a down-shift button DS on the steering wheel (36), a hybrid mode may be entered to allow a user to perform stepped down-shifts to provide engine braking. In the hybrid mode, stepped down-shifts can be selected but the vehicle (10) is accelerated by varying the transmission ratio in a continuous manner.