It is Possible to Clutch Kick with a PDK Transmission
In the past, manual transmissions ensured much
better control and acceleration capacities compared to fast-shifting automatics.
But new technologies implemented in automatic transmissions allowed to
eliminate almost all advantages of classic gear stick solutions and facilitated
to a slumping demand for manual cars. A well-known car enthusiast Matt Farah
has recently proved technical superiority of automatic technologies, proving
that it’s real to “clutch kick” with Porsche’s PDK transmission in a 911 GT3
RS.
First of all, let us clarify what is a clutch
kick? On conventional manually shifted cars, a clutch kick is when the driver
promptly disengages the clutch and reengages it by jabbing the third pedal all
the way to the floor, then quickly releasing. This is to get the engine to rev
up into its maximum power band by releasing the load from the drivetrain as if
one were freely revving either in neutral or with the clutch pedal down. This
trick allows a driver to significantly increase the drive wheels spinning.
7-speed PDK transmission
What’s the point of doing it? For instance, if
you want to perform a powerslide trick when driving a RWD vehicle, without oversteering
or accomplishing so-called “Pendulum Turn”, you can certainly resort to the
mode of operation described above.
Check out how to clutch kick in the PDK-equipped Porsche
But is it possible to perform such a maneuver
while driving an automatic car (such as Porsche’s PDK)? According to Mr. Farah,
you have to disengage all the traction control system. Then, when driving, it
is necessary to switch off the PDK’s clutch by using paddle-shifters and then
push on the gas pedal. If fact, it can be named as a PDK’s clutch kick!
It’s hard to say how the frequent use of such feature will affect the PDK transmission parts, but it is certainly pleasant to know that you automatic Porsche has an operational parameter of a manual transmission.
