There is no specific answer to your question. At least none I know. Each situation demands its specific answer. Going downhill I'm usually in steptronic as I like to control speed with my engine. Going uphill I'm usually in automatic unless there are a lot of curves and then I go to steptronic. You have to develop your own techniques. All I can tell you is the X car is "on rails"! Each curve is another amazement to me. Good luck, Serge