Porsche’s current transmission of choice is the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or “PDK” for those who have trouble pronouncing it.
But for the new rear- and all-wheel-drive Panamera models, the brand will be using this: an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission developed with ZF and called the modular hybrid transmission kit.
Porsche and ZF claim that this new transmission is faster and more efficient than the PDK, and that it also has the capacity to handle future electrified vehicles with an additional 100 kW supplied to the powertrain. The peak torque threshold of the design stands at a claimed 1 000 N.m of torque.
All-wheel-drive power distribution is also catered for, thanks to a hang-on clutch. The gears (two of which act as overdrives) have been spread out further and are said to reduce power losses by 28% when compared to the PDK.
The new ‘box will be mounted longitudinally up front, with Porsche saying it can be adapted to both standard internal combustion and hybrid cars. On electric models, it will be able to run a 100 kW motor all the way to 140 km/h.
