Shift-Hold Control
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Honda Insight and 2010 Honda Insight. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
When driving on winding roads, and the throttle is suddenly released and the brakes are applied, as is the case when decelerating at the entrance of a curve, Shift-Hold Control keeps the transmission in its current (lower) ratio as it negotiates the corner and accelerates out. When the vehicle is driven aggressively on a winding road, the PCM will keep the engine speed on a higher-than-normal setting, so the vehicle can run smooth and have more power. The transmission will resume the normal setting after the PCM determines that normal driving has resumed.