Tech & Auto
What Sports Mode Means For Most Cars
By ALISTAIR CHARLTON
While sport mode has been around since the first automatic transmissions, it only recently spread to almost every car.
This boom in popularity is thanks to the use of computers in cars, which can easily change the characteristics of features like acceleration and brakes with the push of a button.
Using sport mode can give access to the full power of your engine or electric motor that other modes restrict. This can also increase the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal.
However, sport mode might also make your car louder, as it can allow some gasses to bypass the silencer and exit the tailpipe with a louder, sportier tone.
The sound change is widespread among today's electric cars. Some manufacturers, like Genesis, have also added appearance changes when in sport mode and a functional boost button.
Sport mode often increases the weight of a car's steering by reducing the power steering system's assistance, making a car feel alert and more eager to turn into corners.
Although it’s rarer, sport mode can adjust a car's suspension for a stiffer feeling that can reduce roll in the corners and dive under heavy braking.
Sport mode can alter the brakes, like some BMW M series cars that increase the pedal travel’s sensitivity, or electric cars increasing their regenerative braking efforts.