My Video on Driving Modes Explained

[I Stung U]

Hey Stingers

Check out my video on my channel I did to explain the Driving modes of the Stinger.
Let me know what you think and if I missed anything the Driving modes do/change ?
And if I errored in any of the features they do ?
It's on Rumble and Youtube.

Kia Stinger Driving Modes Explained

 

[MerlintheMad]

I use the paddle shifters almost exclusively. Once you engage the turbo boost, it doesn't matter which drive mode you are in: bam, you go. I use Custom pretty exclusively and have the Powertrain set to Eco; that way when I am driving "civilized" I can theoretically get the best gas mileage; and when I want power I pull the downshift paddle (left) and hit it; then back to Eco when I back off.

 

[I Stung U]

I use the paddle shifters almost exclusively. Once you engage the turbo boost, it doesn't matter which drive mode you are in: bam, you go. I use Custom pretty exclusively and have the Powertrain set to Eco; that way when I am driving "civilized" I can theoretically get the best gas mileage; and when I want power I pull the downshift paddle (left) and hit it; then back to Eco when I back off.

Thanks for the input.
I will test this theory at the 1/4 strip this coming weekend. Will do runs in ECO, Comfort and Sport, maybe in Custome (powertrain in Sport, AWD in Comfort, suspension, sport) to see how sport powertrain reacts with 40/60 awd split.

I do notice in mid acceleration, with some turbo boost, the rpm's do upshift more early.. but not sure in full throttle.. I can check that on some side roads as well, but can analyze with track times for more precise results.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I do notice in mid acceleration, with some turbo boost, the rpm's do upshift more early.. but not sure in full throttle.. I can check that on some side roads as well, but can analyze with track times for more precise results.

When I finally got accustomed to the acceleration in this beast (that took some doing and a while, well over a year), I found the kickdown switch and never looked back. So, the only for sure consistent way to test this is under full, kickdown switch WOT. That removes all engine, RPM variability with the other variables of drive mode, automatic versus paddles.

 

[I Stung U]

When I finally got accustomed to the acceleration in this beast (that took some doing and a while, well over a year), I found the kickdown switch and never looked back. So, the only for sure consistent way to test this is under full, kickdown switch WOT. That removes all engine, RPM variability with the other variables of drive mode, automatic versus paddles.

So you're saying as long as you drop the hammer fully, all the rpm, fuel/air mixer difference all go away and the car goes into full powertrain power mode ? except for awd part, if you have awd... comfort will stay 40/60, but the power part is exactly same as sport mode in full throttle ?

 

[MerlintheMad]

So you're saying as long as you drop the hammer fully, all the rpm, fuel/air mixer difference all go away and the car goes into full powertrain power mode ? except for awd part, if you have awd... comfort will stay 40/60, but the power part is exactly same as sport mode in full throttle ?

That is my experience: full bore is full bore (and how AWD gets divided to the front or rear is by drive mode, as you point out). But there could be an RPM shift point difference when using auto that I don't ever see, because I use the paddles.

 

[I Stung U]

That is my experience: full bore is full bore (and how AWD gets divided to the front or rear is by drive mode, as you point out). But there could be an RPM shift point difference when using auto that I don't ever see, because I use the paddles.

have you checked your times to verify it's going just as fast in eco mode this way ? It may feel that way, but in actual power in sport may be 5% better ? and only timing will disclose the difference ?
Not arguing, just curious if you've verified it?

 

[MerlintheMad]

have you checked your times to verify it's going just as fast in eco mode this way ? It may feel that way, but in actual power in sport may be 5% better ? and only timing will disclose the difference ?
Not arguing, just curious if you've verified it?

Just butt dyno. That's why your research will be interesting to watch.

 

[I Stung U]

Just butt dyno. That's why your research will be interesting to watch.

O.K., So it turns out that Merlin is not so Mad after all !! Ha !

So I did over 25 runs on the drag strip today.. Opening day and it was not busy, lucky for me, but at the same time, not so lucky, because I assumed I'd be able to race lots of mustangs, Scat paks, bmw's, etc. etc.... but mostly 9-11 sec cars there and only a few to compete with..
Anyways, I'll be making a video for my rpm auto reviews channel on this and post it soon.

But results are in.... Drum Roll ...... Merlin seems to be correct, that when in FULL Metal jacket, I mean in Full Throttle .. the powertrain part of the modes gets by-passed and it goes full tilt Baby !!

My first 10 runs or so were all in Sport mode and first few using launch, which isn't the best launch system... but it's not bad, if you can time it to let boost build for 3-3.5 secs and let her rip.. if had to go on Green w/1-2 secs. max of launch control in play, it doesn't build enough (I actually knew this part before today) and tad of a delay before a good launch.... and if you go to 4 secs. and just past that, the boost seems to go down. I didn't look at the screen to see this, cause I'm looking at the lights and trying to glance at my rpm's fast, but can hear it in the rev sound..... so this caused me to try to quickly let gas go and press again to re-boost and I fckd up the launch...
Anyways, my first few run was 13.502 and few others between 13.228 to 13.35 ...then getting a bit better at timing and practice at it, I got few lower at 13.177 to 13.222.... using the E-Brake trick.

Then I remembered I gotta try my eco boost, after more than 10 in SM... So I did it was my best time !!!! at 13.058 !! Boom ! (Best time up to then, that is.
I'm like what the heck ?! maybe the 50-50 awd split in awd mode (together with the evidence of the full throttle thing), make for a better launch and balance of power/acceleration over the 20/80 split ? maybe the less fuel in the car now, few hours later, lower weight was the trick ? No, it seems I was able to duplicate these new lower times in Comfort and Sport mode again, after I got the nack of doing the E-brake launches and getting the right boost built up (or at least the revs up to 2,000 - 2,200... if can get this rpm and then release the brake and punch it, I did consistently good launches and better times, the second half of the day. I'm sure the lighter weight of the car made a diff., but it did for all the modes respectfully.
If I did this right at the beginning would I have gotten my best times of the day with a 3/4 full tank of weight ? Likely 0.1-0.2 max higher would still have been the case, but still that wee bit faster then my 13.35 average of the beginning runs..

Oh, so my best for the day (top 5 run times)

- 12.954 @ 108.00 mph & 1/8mile - 8.373 - Sport Mode, E-Brake launch.. all are E-Brake
- 12.965 @ 107.07 mph & 1/8mile - 8.347 - Eco Mode,
- 13.036 @ 106.69 mph & 1/8 mile- 8.410 - Sport Mode,
- 13.043 @ 106.97 mph & 1/8 mile - 8.414 - Comfort Mode
- 13.058 @ 106.43 mph & 1/8mile - 8.409 - Eco Mode

And I do have some Sport modes that were a bit slower than and Eco mode, but the MPH at finish line were a tad higher.. so not sure if there's the WEEEEEEE bit, tiniest better acceleration in sport mode, when it gets going ?? Likely just chance.

Re: Upshifts, it seems (when I did look) Eco and Sport, Comfort all up shift around the same time which is close to 6,500 rpms, but the last shift needed before crossing finish line (I don't know if that's 4-5 or 5-6 ? (can't see that), it goes to just about red line and shifts... and it did that consistently I don't recall how many shifts it does in this distance ?
and


PS. Some Challenger, not sure if hell cat or demon or whatever.. likely demon or just done up more ... Blue my doors off to a different Postal Code !! haha... It'll be in the video I make.
And I was beating a Mustang Gt 16 or newer, and he let off bit after 1/8 mile range.. don't know why.. maybe was being a sucky baby or something was off ?
I ran the S3 a few times, same results. he kept getting approx. 12.2.. it was stage 1 tuned, I believe he said.
Cheers Stingers...
To bad none of my local Stingers came out... bit sad not to have you guys out there with me.

Hey, can the car handle many runs with no issues ? I took lots of brakes to keep car relaxed.. and not to run out gas in one hour.. haha.. was there from 11am to 3:50 pm pacing myself. I think total of 28 runs.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Thanks for the report, that was fun reading.

 

[I Stung U]

So Update, for me anyways. Launch Control works in Custom mode too !! I didn't know that, if ya'll did.
As long as the Powertrain part is set to Sport, LC will engage and work.. other 3 settings can be comfort, it doesn't matter.
The connection is Sport mode for the powertrain.