
· 54 ·· 55 ·
Performance | Transmission
You don’t always want to hand over control, sometimes you prefer to get involved.
Transmission.
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).
The 7-speed PDK – fit ted as
standard in the Panamera 4,
Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo
and available as an option in the
Panamera and Panamera S –
has both a manual gearshif t and
an automatic mode and enables
smooth gear changes with no
interruption in the flow of power.
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
Gear lever
Six-speed manual gearbox.
For precision handling: the 6-speed
manual gearbox fit ted as standard
in the Panamera and Panamera S
is tuned for sport y performance
with optimum connection to
the individual gears and extremely
precise shif t throws. Thanks to the elevated centre
console, the gear lever is within
easy reach – ideal for sport y
shifting. The cable-operated gear
-
shif t unit has a precise feel and
the gear lever is insulated against
vibration. Together with the dual-
mass fly wheel, this minimises
noise and is key to providing a
high level of comfort.
An upshift indicator in the instru -
ment cluster helps to further
improve fuel economy. Porsche
Doppelkupplung (PDK) is available
as an option for both of these
models.
Gears 1 to 6 have a sports ratio
and top speed is reached in 6th
gear. The 7th gear has a long
ratio, which reduces fuel consump-
tion even further and keeps engine
revs comfortably low even at
high road speeds. PDK is essentially t wo gearboxes
in one and thus requires t wo
clutches. This double clutch pro
-
vides an alternating, non-positive
connection bet ween the t wo
half gearboxes and the engine by means of t wo separate input shaf ts
(input shaf t 1 is nested inside
the hollowed - out input shaf t 2).

· 56 ·· 57 ·
Performance | Transmission
Power flow in 1st gear
Power flow in 2nd gear
The flow of power from the
engine is transmit ted through one
half gearbox and one clutch at a
time, while the next gear is pre -
selected in the other half gearbox.
During a gear change, therefore,
a complete shif t no longer takes
place. Instead, one clutch simply
opens and the other closes at the
same time. Gear changes can
therefore take place within a few
hundredths of a second.
Clutch 1 controls the first half
gearbox, which contains the odd
gears (1, 3, 5 and 7). Clutch 2
controls the second, which con -
tains the even gears (2, 4, 6 and
R). The gear which is engaged
is displayed on the instrument
cluster.
PDK has distinct benefits. A high
level of driving comfort and
very rapid gearshifts, with no
interruption in the flow of power,
produces faster acceleration.
Driving feels even sportier and
more dynamic, and agilit y is
increased. Depending on the gear -
shif t programme (SPORT but ton
activated or deactivated), the gear
change is optimised for comfort
or for sport y driving. Its high level
of ef ficiency combined with the
long-ratio 7th gear helps to
achieve reduced fuel consumption
and emission figures even when
compared with a standard manual
gearbox.
In conjunction with either the
optional Sport Chrono Package
Plus (p. 74) for all Panamera
models with a naturally aspirated
engine or the optional Sport
Chrono Package Turbo for the
Panamera Turbo (p. 76), PDK is
enhanced by a Launch Control
function which offers a sportier
acceleration and gearshift
strategy in automatic mode and
extremely smooth gear changes
in manual mode.
PDK offers sportiness with
efficiency and comfort. A new
definition of driving in the
pre
mium class from Porsche.

· 58 ·· 59 ·
Three-spoke sports steering
wheel with gearshift switches
and multifunction option.
In conjunction with the optional
PDK, the three-spoke sports
steering wheel fit ted as standard
has t wo ergonomic switches
for changing gear.
One press
forwards with the thumb
and PDK
shifts up. One pull backwards with
the index finger and PDK shif ts
down. Either the right or lef t hand
can be used. Even if the gear selector is set to
automatic, you can still use the
switches to change gear manually
at any time. In this way, even in
automatic mode, you can achieve
a short burst of speed for an over
-
taking manoeuvre. The system
reverts to automatic mode if no
manual inputs are detected for
approximately eight seconds.
Using the PDK gear selector, you
can also change gear manually in
a separate one-touch manual shif t
gate. The control concept mirrors
the logic of the switches on the PDK steering wheel – press
forwards to shift up, pull back
-
wards to shift down.
A multifunction version of the
three-spoke sports steering wheel
is available on request. Steering
wheel heating is also optional.
When combined with the Sport
Chrono Package, there is an addi -
tional display* above the airbag
module. It tells you whether the
SPORT, SPORT PLUS and Launch
Control functions are activated.
Three-spoke sports steering
wheel with gearshift paddles.*
Available as an option is the three-
spoke sports steering wheel with
gearshif t paddles. The paddles
are made from a strong alloy and
are ergonomically located behind
the right and lef t steering wheel
spokes. Pull the right-hand paddle
and the PDK shif ts up. Pull the
left-hand paddle and the PDK
shif ts down.
Visually, the steering wheel is
distinguished by its distinctive
high - qualit y t win -spoke design and
silver-coloured spoke cover.
This steering wheel also has an
additional display when combined
with the Sport Chrono Package.
Located in the lef t and right-hand
steering wheel spokes, it tells you
whether SPORT, SPORT PLUS and
Launch Control are activated. Another feature reminiscent of the
world of motorsport is the top
centre marking on the steering
wheel rim.
Three -spoke spor ts steering wheel with gearshif t paddles
Three -spoke steering wheel for PDK
Three -spoke multifunction steering wheel
PDK gear selector
Performance
| Transmission
* For Panamera S, Panamera 4S and
Panamera Turbo, available from
09/2010 at the earliest.

· 60 ·· 61 ·
All -wheel drive
Performance | Transmission
Fit ted as standard in the new
Panamera 4, the Panamera 4S
and the Panamera Turbo, Porsche
Traction Management (PTM) com -
prises an active all-wheel drive
with electronic and map-controlled
multi-plate clutch with automatic
brake differential (ABD) and anti -
slip regulation (ASR). The electronically controlled multi
-
plate clutch regulates the distri -
bution of drive force bet ween the
permanently driven rear axle and
the front axle.
Through continuous monitoring
of the driving conditions, the elec -
tronics are able to respond to a
variet y of situations. Sensors
check,
among other variables, the
rotation speeds of all four wheels,
the longitudinal and lateral accel -
eration of the vehicle, and the
steering angle.
If the rear wheels threaten to
spin under acceleration, a greater
proportion of drive force is distrib-
uted to the front by a more power -
ful engagement of the multiplate
clutch. In addition, ASR reduces
wheel slip. When cornering, the
front wheels only ever receive as
much drive force as is necessary
to maintain optimum lateral
stability. In this way, PTM, in conjunction
with Porsche Stabilit y Management
(PSM, p. 72), ensures that the
perfect distribution of drive is
achieved every time: whether on
long straights, through tight cor
-
ners, or on surfaces with dif ferent
friction coefficients. In this situa -
tion, traction is additionally enhanced by the automatic brake
differential (ABD).
Whenever the brake control
systems are required to intervene,
PTM decouples the front axle
completely so that PSM interven -
tions can take place at each
individual wheel.
You always like to have your feet firmly planted on the ground.
With all-wheel-drive, the principle is the same.
Porsche Traction Management (PTM).