Q Winter mode?

[DenverQ]

OK I was driving home in the nice snow and ice of Denver. Everyone stopped on a bridge/hill (which means ice with some ice on ice) It woulnt go with the traction control so I had to turn it off and spin the tires slowly makin my way up the hill. I stopped and started again and noticed the car didnt start in 1st gear anymore and it went up the hill and I had no problem. I turned on the traction control again and it was a champ it still started in 2nd or 3rd gear I couldnt tell. I got home and turned off the car and back on and 1st gear was back. SO i am wondering did i bust somehting or is there a Winter mode that turns on when excessive wheelspin is detected and goes into 2 gear start?

[Ex-CA Driver]

To my knowledge you just got a great and first hand experience with the limit slip differential. Also being the fact that you have the touring, it could have been a failsafe