Porsche 911 Carrera: Out with automatic transmissions, in with PDK!
The Porsche 911 made an impact from the moment it first appeared on the automobile scene. This is a sports car that has captured the hearts of practically all performance enthusiasts and is, in fact, the model that is considered the heart of the manufacturer. The 911 has certainly become a common vehicle on our roads over the years and while its style may not be as exotic as others, it remains capable of delivering first rate performances both on the road and on the racetrack.
For 2009, the Porsche 911 Carrera has undergone a few aesthetic touch-ups, but nothing major. Since the manufacturer firmly believes that the 911’s classic style remains one of the main reasons its clients buy it, forget about radical changes. The Porsche 911 is one of those models that, whatever the reason, be it scarcity or a simple desire to keep the original features, remain classics year after year and evolve slower than other vehicles. As is the trend, the traditional lights have been replaced by LED lighting, giving it a more intimidating look in the front and a little more sophistication in the back. New colour schemes, new rims and a new exhaust are also noteworthy.
More punch under the hood
While the vehicle’s minor aesthetic changes aren’t exactly headline news, the mechanical improvements will definitely raise some eyebrows. First of all, the duo of engines that equip the Carrera and Carrera S are a little more powerful thanks to the addition of a direct fuel injection system. The 3.6-litre engine increases from 325 to 345 horsepower, while the 3.8-litre six cylinder engine jumps 30 horsepower from 355 to 385, an increase that will shave a half-second off of the previous model’s 0-100km/h time. This is hardly Porsche’s main sales pitch, but since fuel consumption is a major preoccupation these days, even when it comes to performance cars, direct injection will improve fuel economy compared to the old engine.
While Audi and BMW have been offering sequential manual transmission for several years now, Porsche, which had already used this type of gearbox in certain models in the sixties, was hesitant to adopt it. The 911 will offer this type of transmission for the first time this year. Baptized PDK for Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (say that three times fast), this gearbox combines the best of both automatic and manual transmissions. First, it is nothing like a traditional automatic transmission. Sure, the PDK gearbox features manual controls on the steering wheel similar to the “manumatic” mode of other transmissions, but that is where the similarities end. The PDK is a twin-clutch manual gearbox like those offered by Audi, Volkswagen and BMW. It’s a little like having one transmission for even gears, and another for odd gears. The primary benefit is shifting speed, since the previous or subsequent gears, whatever the case may be, are already pre-selected by the second clutch. The result is a speed of execution that not even a professional driver could duplicate with a typical manual transmission.
Enhanced performance
On the road, the engines demonstrate improved power, while the slightly higher torque will keep you pinned to your seat. And with the delightful deep sound of the engine accelerating, Porsche gives new meaning to the term “aural” pleasure. Thanks to the new PDK sequential gearbox, ultra fast shifting is possible without even taking your hands off of the wheel. However, instead of simple buttons on the wheel that both perform the same functions, controls located behind the wheel – one to upshift, one to downshift – would have been preferable.
The PDK gearbox comes with yet another new feature, Sport Chrono Plus mode. This third mode, after Normal and Sport modes, can be accessed by pushing a button on the console to modify the settings of the accelerator and the suspension and to engage the “Launch Control”, a system that allows standing starts while maximizing engine speed, a normally impossible feat with an automatic transmission. It’s a little like releasing the clutch with the pedal to the metal, and is the reason that the car can reach 0-100km/h faster than with a classical manual transmission.
Whether on a winding road or on the track the Porsche 911 Carrera delivers first-rate performances. All of the on-board technology is meant for performance, not comfort. Porsche understands that powerful acceleration is nothing without the ability to stop quickly, and the braking system is every bit the equal of the car’s power. The brakes are effective in any conditions thanks to six-piston callipers in front.
Porsche has again gently pushed the limits of its sports car. The addition of the PDK transmission is certain to change the sales ratio, and may even make manual versions practically obsolete. What to do if he wants the manual transmission, but she wants the automatic…Compromise, of course, with the PDK transmission.
