
224
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems Kickdown
The kickdown function is active in selector lever
position D.
fFor optimum acceleration, e.g. when overtak-
ing, depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle point (kickdown).
The transmission shifts down depending on the
speed of travel and engine speed.
Upward shifts occur at the highest possible engine
speeds.
These gear-changing speeds remain active until
the accelerator is released to approx. 80% of the
full-throttle position.
D - Automatic selection mode (in the off-
road driving program)The functions of selector lever positions D and M
differ in the on-road program, High Range, and in
the off-road program, Low Range.
fUse selector lever position D for “normal” driv-
ing.
The gears are shifted automatically according
to the accelerator position and speed.
The gears are shifted automatically according to
the accelerator position and speed. The gear-
changing points have been adjusted to achieve the
best possible vehicle control on difficult terrain.Depending on the route profile, the gear-changing
points are shifted towards higher or lower engine-
speed ranges. On steep downhill stretches, up-
ward shifts are prevented until medium engine
speeds are reached (at least 2,500 rpm).
When the car is overrunning, an automatic upshift
does not occur when the engine speed limit is
reached.
Moving off
The car moves off in 1st gear.
Shifting gear on the steering wheel
By shifting gear with the rocker switches on the
steering wheel, you can temporarily change from
automatic selection mode D to manual selection
mode M.
Advantages
– Shifting down on downward slopes (engine
braking).
– Shifting down for brief spurts of acceleration.
– Selecting 1st/2nd or 3rd gear for moving off.
The manual selection mode remains engaged:
– For overrunning
– Depending on lateral acceleration
– When the vehicle is stationary (e.g. at a junc-
tion).The system leaves manual selection mode:
– Automatically after around 8 seconds
(unless car is subject to high lateral accelera-
tion, is overrunning or stationary),
– if you depress the accelerator to kickdown.
Kickdown
The kickdown function is active in selector lever
position D.
fFor optimum acceleration, e.g. when overtak-
ing, depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle point (kickdown).
The transmission shifts down depending on the
speed of travel and engine speed.
Upward shifts occur at the highest possible engine
speeds.
These gear-changing speeds remain active until
the accelerator is released to approx. 80% of the
full-throttle position.
Tip on driving
Unlike in the on-road driving program, an automat-
ic upshift is not performed in manual selection
mode M when the engine-speed limit is reached.

Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
227
StoppingfFor a brief stop (e.g. at a traffic light), leave the
selector lever in drive position and hold the ve-
hicle with the brake pedal.
fDo not hold the car on a slope using the accel-
erator. Use the brake pedal or the parking
brake instead.
fBefore leaving the vehicle, always apply the
handbrake and move the selector lever to
position P.
Tip on driving
In selector lever positions D and M, the Hillholder
prevents the car from rolling backward when it has
been stopped on an upward slope with the engine
running.
fPlease observe the chapter “HILLHOLDER” on
Page 242.
ParkingfGo easy on the accelerator.
fWhen parking or maneuvring in a small space,
control the speed by careful use of the foot-
brake.Driving in winterIn wintry road conditions it is advisable to take
steep inclines in manual mode M. This prevents
the occurrence of gear changes that could cause
wheelspin.
Reduced driving programIf there is a fault in the transmission:
–An X appears instead of the current gear
indicator on the multi-purpose display of the in-
strument panel.
The transmission no longer shifts.
fTo remedy the fault, immediately consult an au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
Warning!
Reverse gear lock monitoring is disabled in
the emergency running program.
Damage to the vehicle may result as well as
loss of control, if the vehicle is moving for-
ward fast enough to cause rear wheel lockup.
fDo not shift into R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Tip on driving
3rd or 5th gear in selector position D and reverse
gear R are now available and will allow you to
reach the nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
fPlease go to your authorized Porsche dealer
as soon as possible.

Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
229
Driving Programs for On-Road and
Off-Road DrivingTwo different driving programs with special power-
transmission and running-gear control systems
(such as ABS, off-road ABS and PSM, etc.) are pro-
vided in your Porsche, with the aim of realising the
best possible driving dynamics combined with
maximum safety.
All control systems meet these requirements for
both off-road and normal driving.With rocker switch A, you can easily select the ap-
propriate driving program to suit the special re-
quirements for the respective terrain.
Off-road program Low Range
(with reduction)
When Low Range is active, the power transmis-
sion and running-gear control systems are
automatically adapted to the requirements for
off-road driving.
On-road driving program High Range
(without reduction)
When High Range is active, the power-transmis-
sion and running-gear control systems are auto-
matically adapted to the requirements for on-road
driving.
UseRocker switch A is located in the center console
of the vehicle. It features a multi-step function and
can be operated in both directions. Each time the rocker switch is pushed forward,
the vehicle becomes one step more suitable for
off-road driving. This is realised by changing from
the on-road to the off-road driving program or by
engaging the differential locks in stages.
The number of differential locks that can be en-
gaged in Low Range depends on the equipment of
your vehicle.
Each time the rocker switch is pushed back, the
vehicle becomes one step more suitable for on-
road driving.
Once the driving program has been selected, the
rocker switch springs back to home position.
Notes on operation
If the Low Range indicator light beside the rocker
switch flashes rapidly after the ignition is
switched on, there is a fault in the shifting
system.
fPlease have the vehicle checked immediately
at an authorized Porsche dealer.

230
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems If the Low Range indicator light beside the rocker
switch flashes when you attempt to operate rock-
er switch, the conditions for a shift have not been
met:
Vehicles with manual transmission
– Vehicle is not stationary.
– Brake is not pressed.
– Gear-shift lever is not in neutral.
Vehicles with Tiptronic S
– Vehicle has exceeded or gone below the limit
speed.
– Selector lever is not in position N.
A-Rocker switch
B- Low Range is engagedChanging from on-road driving program
to off-road driving programVehicles with manual transmission
fStop the vehicle.
fApply the brake.
fPut the gearshift lever in neutral.fPush rocker switch A forward until activation of
the off-road driving program is indicated on the
multi-purpose display of the instrument panel
and by illumination of light-emitting diodeB.
The Low Range indicator lights in the instru-
ment panel and beside the rocker switch flash
several times during the shifting process.
Low Range is now engaged.
Caution!
Risk of engine damage (overrevving). In the
Low Range program, the gear-changing
points are shifted towards lower engine-
speed ranges.
fShift early to prevent overrevving the engine.
Tip on driving
When Low Range is active, the power
transmission and running-gear control systems
are automatically adapted to the requirements for
off-road driving.
Low Range indicator light

234
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Changing from off-road driving program
to on-road driving programVehicles with manual transmission
fStop the vehicle.
fApply the brake.
fPut the gearshift lever in neutral.
fPull rocker switch A back in stages until light-
emitting diodes B, C and if necessary, D are
out.
The Low Range indicator light on the instru-
ment panel and light-emitting diode B beside
the rocker switch flash several times during
the shifting process.
High Range is active.Vehicles with Tiptronic S
fReduce speed to below 19 mph (30 km / h) or
stop vehicle.
fMove selector lever to position N.
fPull rocker switch A back in stages until light-
emitting diodes B, C and if necessary, D are
out.
The Low Range indicator light on the instru-
ment panel and light-emitting diode B beside
the rocker switch flash several times during
the shifting process.
High Range is active.
Danger!
Serious risk of injury or death. Risk of
accident due to uncontrolled vehicle
movement. The selector lever is blocked
during the shifting procedure. Shifting when
driving uphill can cause the vehicle to stand
still or even roll backwards, if the shifting
procedure has not yet been completed.
When driving downhill, the vehicle can accel-
erate unintentionally while shifting.
fIncreased brake readiness is required.
fPlease observe the chapter “POWER-TRANS-
MISSION AND RUNNING-GEAR CONTROL SYS-
TEMS” on Page 235.

Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
235
Power-Transmission and Running-Gear Control SystemsA complex interconnection of all control systems acting in power transmission and in the running gear has been realised in your Porsche.
All control systems have been linked with the aim of combining the best possible driving performance with maximum safety.
The following systems are involved:
System/designation Scope
PTM
Porsche Traction Management– Full-time all-wheel drive
– Electronically controlled center differential lock
– Automatic brake differential (ABD)
– Traction control system (TCS)
– Reduction gear/Low Range
PTM Plus
Porsche Traction ManagementIn addition to the PTM features, PTM Plus also includes:
– Electronically controlled rear differential lock
– Hydraulically disengageable anti-roll bars
PSM
Porsche Stability Management– Stability management system
– Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
– Traction control system (TCS)
– Automatic brake differential (ABD)
– Engine drag torque control (MSR)
Air suspension
with level control and height adjustment– Fully load bearing air spring struts with integral shock absorbers
– Air supply system with pressure accumulator
PAS M
Porsche Active Suspension Management– Shock absorber system with adaptive, continuous shock absorber control

Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
243
Porsche Drive-Off Assistant –
Moving-off assistant on vehicles with
manual transmissionThe Porsche Drive-Off Assistant enables the driver
to move off on upward slopes. The vehicle must
have sufficient road contact to use this feature.
The Porsche Drive-Off Assistant is available for
slopes starting at approximately 5%.
fPlease observe the chapter “TRAILER
COUPLING” on Page 212.
Danger!
Risk of accident.
When moving off on a slippery surface (e.g.,
on icy or loose surfaces), assistance by the
Porsche Drive-Off Assistant is no longer
assured. In this case, the vehicle could slip.
The limits set by the physics of driving cannot
be overcome, even with the Porsche Drive-
Off Assistant. The responsibility for moving
off on upward slopes is still the driver's,
despite the Porsche Drive-Off Assistant.
fAlways adjust your driving style to the driving
conditions and vehicle load, use the footbrake if necessary.Moving off with Porsche Drive-Off Assistant
1. Hold the vehicle securely with footbrake or
parking brake on the slope.
The engine must be running.
2. Fully depress the clutch pedal.
3. Engage one of the gears used to ascend in the
direction of travel (1st gear or reverse).
4. While keeping the clutch pedal depressed,
release the footbrake or foot-operated parking
brake.
The vehicle is held on the slope.
5. Move off as usual.Note on operation
The Porsche Drive-Off Assistant ceases to
function:
– by shifting to neutral.
– when changing gears.
– by stopping or “stalling” the engine.
Danger!
Risk of accident.
If the Porsche Drive-Off Assistant ceases to
function, the vehicle will no longer be held on
a slope.
fHold the vehicle with the footbrake.

244
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Engine Braking Support
(Assistance when heading downhill)The Porsche Down-Hill Assistant is an assistance
system which helps the driver at slower downhill
driving up to approx. 12 mph (20 km/h), e.g., on
steep slopes or on wintry mountain roads.
As long as the gas pedal is not used when
traveling downhill, the Porsche Down-Hill Assistant
is active and brakes the vehicle.
The braking ability of the Engine Braking Support
is affected by slippery surfaces (e.g., on icy or
loose surfaces), like all brakes.
If road grip is lost on one or more wheels, the
system brakes the wheels which have good road
contact.
Conditions:
– The gas pedal must not be used when
travelling downhill.
– The speed must not exceed 12 mph
(20 km/h).
–Vehicles with Tiptronic S:
The selector lever position D, M or R must be
engaged.
–Vehicles with manual transmission:
The reverse gear or any other gear (1. - 6. )
must be engaged. The clutch pedal must not
be used when travelling downhill.
Warning!
Risk of accident. Reduced braking ability on
a slippery surface.
fAlways adjust your driving style to the driving situation.
Tip on driving
The Porsche Down-Hill Assistant is active when
driving downhill either forwards or backwards.
Checks on test standsPower measurement
Power measurements on roller test stands are not
approved by Porsche.
Brake tests
Brake tests must be carried out only in High Range
and on plate-type test stands or roller test stands.
The following limit values must not be exceeded
on roller test stands:
– Testing speed 4.7 mph (7.5 km/h)
– Test duration 20 seconds
Parking brake test
Parking brake tests on the brake tester must be
performed only with the ignition switched off and
the selector lever in position N or the gearshift le-
ver in neutral.Balancing wheels on the vehicle
During finish balancing of the wheels, the entire ve-
hicle must be lifted and the wheels must be free to
turn.
Dynamometer testing procedure Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces con-
duct emissions inspection/maintenance testing in-
volving the use of two-wheel dynamometer.
A two-wheeled dynamometer is a treadmill type
device upon which a single axle of the car, the driv-
ing axle of the vehicle, rotates to simulate vehicle
operation on the road while the vehicle remains
stationary.
Your Porsche Cayenne has a full-time four-wheel
drive system which cannot be disabled. Severe
damage to the powertrain can result if tested on a
two-wheel dynamometer.
Warning!
To avoid severe powertrain damage and a
possible unexpected movement of the vehi-
cle.
fYour Porsche Cayenne vehicle must never be
tested on a two-wheel dynamometer.
fAdvise the emission station of this warning be-fore testing the vehicle.