There was a significant uproar. When Porsche originally introduced the 911 with a Sportomatic semiautomatic transmission in 1967, the trade press was as dubious as brand aficionados who were devout to the cause. Even the most quiet Porsche enthusiasts expressed their alarm. The clutch pedal was removed in order to increase the comfort of the vehicle. Comfort? in a sporty vehicle? A further two seconds longer from 0 to 100 km/h than with manual transmission? As if all of that weren’t enough, it also used more fuel. It goes without saying that the Sportomatic package did not have a great sales performance.
Step forward fifty years. Due to the Porsche dual-clutch transmission, the initial criticism against the supposed incompatibility of sportiness with automated technology had largely subsided by this point (PDK). The first tests of the new technology, which began in 1980, concluded in a significant accomplishment in 1986.
The PDK gets its name from the way the gears are apportioned across the two distinct clutches. While the even gears are connected to clutch II, the odd gears and reverse are connected to clutch I. Fully automatic gear changes are now possible without losing traction thanks to technology. Similar to a manual shifter, the PDK system uses computer-assisted electrohydraulics to select the different gears; nonetheless, shift forks are still used. An amalgam of manual and automatic shifting is the end outcome. In the PDK, efficiency, dynamics, and comfort are combined in a way that is unmatched.
Despite the PDK system’s widespread use, it was initially only employed in the motorsports industry after its launch in 1983. This transmission type has a number of benefits, especially when used with turbocharged engines. Unlike with a manual transmission, drivers can maintain full throttle throughout gear changes, maintaining the turbocharger’s charge pressure. stoppage of the motion? Not even close.
However, the start of series production took some time. Several stages of development required to be completed on the control electronics first. Above all, the new technology had to become used to not abruptly changing gears.
Porsche began offering an optional PDK in the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S in 2008.
The Panamera model lineup’s world debut a year later marked the milestone. The four-door sport sedan made history in 2009 when the PDK I, a standard seven-speed PDK, was introduced in numerous models. The eight-speed PDK II has been the only transmission option for the Porsche Panamera since 2016. Additionally, the Porsche 911’s PDK has eight speeds. In fact, compared to 1967, automated gearboxes are becoming more and more popular among Porsche drivers.
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A 911 with PDK or a manual transmission is better to purchase. Yes
Editor-in-chief of the flappy-paddle swatter, Wes Raynal:
I apologize to you manual-transmission aficionados, but I like Porsche’s PDK better. The shift-it-yourself folks has been making the “more-involving” case for years, and I understand it. The PDK, however, has one advantage above me in that it shifts much more quickly and reliably while also being much smoother.
The famed 956 and the 962 were where the PDK initially made its debut on the racetrack. The transmission entered the production automobiles in 2005 after taking home multiple championships in the sports car category. None of that would occur if PDKs weren’t excellent. In addition, according to Porsche experts, a PDK is more compatible with the brand’s most recent turbocharged flat-four and flat-six engines than a manual transmission.
The main line, in my opinion, is that Porsche has improved its PDK to the point where a manual transmission is no longer required. I would choose the PDK while daily operating a Porsche. The time has come.
Andrew Stoy, a freelance digital editor and heeler/toer:
faster and more reliably, huh? Perhaps you need to improve your driving abilities.
Okay, I won’t claim that my dual-clutch transmission is faster than Porsche’s. And while PDK is undoubtedly more commodious to have in constant traffic, why are you operating your 911 at rush hour? The Panamera e-Hybrid is made for such purpose. Although the 911 is arguably the most well-rounded sports vehicle available today, it is not the best choice for commuting.
What do you say? Seven-speed manual or PDK? Remember: One of each is the right response. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Usman Raynal
Wes Raynal, who was born and reared in Detroit, has been a lifelong auto enthusiast.
A Synopsis of Porsche Automatic Transmissions’ History
Porsche unveiled their first automatic transmission way back in 1968. Porsche introduced the Sportomatic transmission in order to appeal to the market that didn’t want to manually change gears.
This transmission wasn’t an actual automatic. The driver was able to change gears by operating a vacuum-controlled clutch with a gear lever similar to one found in a manual transmission car. The absence of a clutch pedal was what made a difference, though. This transmission, which was utilized in Porsches up until 1980, represented an early attempt at a semi-automatic transmission.
The Tiptronic automatic, which was a ZF product, was the next. Porsche altered the ZF transmission to make it more responsive and athletic. Like modern automated vehicles, it also had a manual mode. The Tiptronic transmission was first employed in the 911 of the 964 generation in 1991, and it has since undergone modifications.
Porsche’s racing engineers had been working on a dual-clutch transmission known as the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK, during this time. Porsche eventually installed the PDK transmission in production vehicles starting in 2005 after nearly 30 years of use and development in racing.
The Porsche PDK transmission is more than simply an automatic, but what exactly is it and how does it operate?
You might have noticed the initials PDK in the specifications of a certain automobile and wondered what they stood for if you were considering buying a new or used Porsche or if you are just a fan of the brand.
The word Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, which translates as Porsche dual-clutch gearbox, derives from the German and stands for a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Since its debut in 2007, the PDK system has essentially taken the role of the traditional Tiptronic gearbox across the Porsche lineup, while the current and prior generation Cayenne models continue to use a normal automatic gearbox.
As most dual-clutch gearboxes have two clutches and, in essence, two gearboxes merged into one casing, the basic operating principles of PDK are the same as those of most dual-clutch gearboxes. First, third, fifth, seventh, and reverse gears are controlled by one clutch, while second, fourth, and sixth gears are controlled by the second clutch.
The technology was first tested by Porsche in the 1960s and installed in its successful 962 Group C racing cars, but it took another two decades of development before it was approved for use in mass-produced road vehicles.
This implies that, unlike a manual gearbox, shift times are less than 100 milliseconds, and the next gear engages so quickly that the loss of power is practically undetectable. A 718 Cayman with a manual transmission needs 5.3 seconds to accelerate to 62 mph, whereas a vehicle with a PDK can complete the same sprint in 4.9 seconds. When you add the Sport Chrono package with launch control, this time is further reduced to 4.7 seconds.
When the gearbox is left in completely automated mode, the quick and nearly seamless change speed improves performance as well as comfort.
On the other hand, all PDK vehicles are equipped with paddle shifters or buttons that let drivers handle their own shifting. In this case, the speed of the shift means that the vehicle will react quickly to the driver’s inputs.
Efficiency with PDK is an additional benefit. Although the more complicated gearbox weighs around 30 kg more than a comparable manual, the transmission’s overall effectiveness is increased. In contrast to the 33.2mpg claimed for the PDK-equipped model, the manual 718 Cayman boasts a maximum WLTP combined consumption of 32.8mpg.
When did Porsche introduce PDK?
Porsche PDK, which debuted in 2009, challenges the limits of performance and speed by changing more quickly than standard transmissions. Even better, this sophisticated transmission has a launch control feature for precise starts from a halt and never needs the clutch to be replaced.
Which Porsches come with a PDK?
The Porsche 911 as well as many other brand-new models, such as the 718 Cayman, the 718 Boxster, the Panamera, and the Macan, are available with the PDK transmission, or the company’s PDK dual-clutch transmission.
Is the Porsche PDK superior to the manual?
For the fastest lap times on Los Angeles track days, the Porsche PDK offers quicker acceleration and immediate reaction as compared to manual transmissions. Although the PDK transmission was first designed for racing, it also has a lot of other benefits.
How is a Porsche PDK shifted?
The fact that fast-shifting automatic transmissions don’t provide drivers as much control as a conventional three-pedal layout is one of the more tired arguments against them. However, that reasoning has been at least partially refuted as transmission technology has advanced over time. Matt Farah, an automobile celebrity, recently demonstrated that it is entirely possible to “clutch kick” with a Porsche 911 GT3 RS equipped with the PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission.
With the engine cranked up, a driver can effectively force the car’s drive wheels to spin by swiftly disengaging the clutch and then reengaging it.
Who would like to do that? Say you want to create a power-slide in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle without oversteering or doing the traditional “Scandinavian flick.” The best method is to use a clutch kick.
How does the Porsche PDK work? You must turn off all of the traction control features, claims Farah. The PDK’s clutch can then be effectively disengaged by pulling back simultaneously on both of the shift paddles positioned on the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving.
Once you’ve done that, accelerate quickly to instantly simulate a PDK clutch kick!
You can watch Farah perform the trick in the video below even though you might not own a costly Porsche to test it on.
Does the Porsche PDK have two clutches?
Porsche created the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) in the 1980s for use in racing, and it is now a standard feature in all new Porsche cars. It means “Porsche double-clutch gearbox” and functions in a manner similar to other DCTs used in the automobile sector.
The Porsche PDK transmission’s dependability
Compared to other dual-clutch gearboxes, the PDK transmission is relatively dependable, but its service life is mostly dependent on regular maintenance and adherence to the manufacturer’s operating guidelines.
Why is PDK effective?
The PDK shifts more quickly than manual gears, enabling quicker acceleration and quicker lap times. Although the PDK transmission was first designed for racing, it also has many more benefits when used on Portsmouth’s streets. There is no clutch, so you may concentrate more on driving.
Does PDK learn how to drive?
I doubt it, though. However, I’m curious because I used my prior Cayman as a daily vehicle. I observed the car was a touch slow to downshift while braking while driving aggressively on a winding road in automatic mode, and on a few occasions it felt like it should have been in a lower gear when coming off the curve. It was in athletic mode. When I went to manual, I discovered that it operated a little better when I used the paddles to downshift earlier as I approached the corners.
Do you drive differently now than you did then? If so, can it relearn if repeatedly driven in a different way?
When I’m meeting up for a group drive or a track run, I reset the PDK to re-learn and then drive the a$$ out of it because my car is a commuter hack and frequently stop-starts every day, averaging less than 30 MPH.