What is the Tiptronic Transmission?

Tiptronic is an automatic transmission system used in various Porsche models. It is known for providing a more engaging driving experience compared to traditional automatic transmissions. Tiptronic transmission combines the convenience of an automatic transmission with the manual gearshift option.

Introduced in 1989

Porsche introduced the Tiptronic transmission in 1989 as an option for the 964 generation Porsche 911. It was the perfect synthesis of comfort and sportiness. This new transmission system drew on the experience gained from the Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) used in the successful 962 C racing model. It combined an automatic four-speed torque-converter powershift transmission with the possibility to change gear manually.

In addition to the conventional selector lever positions, the Tiptronic features a second parallel gate in which simply tapping on the selector lever changed the gear immediately. “Tapping” the lever forwards shifted up a gear, while tapping it backwards shifted down. Manual control was possible as long as the engine speed limits were not exceeded. If you forgot to shift up, the gearbox automatically shifted to the next gear up when the permitted maximum engine speed was reached.

In the fully-automatic mode, the “adaptive program control” of the Tiptronic senses the way the car is driven. This avoids the drawbacks usually found with automatic gearboxes, in particular the unwanted upshifts when cornering, and provides for optimum adaptation to the driving conditions. Since the accelerator position is continuously fed into the control parameters maximum fuel economy can be achieved. As all shifting operations are carried out under load, loss of traction, as would be the case when declutching a conventional manual gearbox, is avoided even when the transmission is operated manually.

Followed by the Tiptronic S

The first Tiptronic had a four forward gears. Since then, Porsche has introduced five- and six-speed versions. The latest Tiptronic, used in Cayenne, is an eight-speed transmission. In 1994, Porsche introduced the Tiptronic S. It was an upgrade to the original Tiptronic, featuring steering wheel-mounted fingertip controls for gear changes. In Porsche sports cars, the Tiptronic was replaced by the double-clutch PDK transmission, which Porsche introduced for the 911 series in 2008.

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