First Drive: 2009 Porsche 911

Tag : Clutches And Brakes

Arriving at North American showrooms in September, the lineup is abase Carrera Coupe , outfitted with a 3.6L, 345-hp boxer six and mated to a revisedsix-speed manual, at $75,600. The base Cabriolet and Carrera S Coupe, which is powered by a 3.8L six with 385 hp,are both $86,200, while the Carrera S Cabriolet is $96,800.
Both models boast more power, bigger brakes, more athleticsuspensions, and a clean and classic exterior rehabilitation, butarguably the most significant aspect of the oh-niners isPorsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (say PDK to avoid lingual strain),the new twin-clutch gearbox that replaces the generally unlovedTiptronic S.
Built by ZF, PDK has a three-shaft configuration that's morecompact than Tiptronic, lighter by 22 lb, and so slick in operationthere's no auxiliary cooler even though less gearbox oil is used toreduce internal drag. Airflow is all that's required to keep theoil at optimum temperature, though a separate oil chamber, cooledby a small heat exchanger, is used to lubricate the two wetclutches that give the gearbox its name. One clutch handles the oddgears, 1-3-5-7, and the second engages 2-4-6. PDK offers a range ofshift strategies within its software, from a totalconsumption-optimized approach to one that gets the most out of thepowertrain, but either way the gears change more quickly, by up to60 percent when the car is fitted with optional Sport Chrono Plus.