I hope this wasn't posted already.

Official statement on turbo tech and manual vs. tip controversy:
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VTG AND TIPTRONIC S vs. 6-SPEED POSITION STATEMENTS

Below is background information and position statements on two issues that have arisen with the recent announcement of the specifications for the 2007 911 Turbo. The first issue deals with claims of the Turbo's variable turbine geometry (VTG) not being the first application of this technology in a production gasoline engine. The second with the superior standing start acceleration figures produced by the optional 5-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission in relation to the standard 6-speed manual transmission.

VARIABLE TURBINE GEOMETRY (VTG) BACKGROUND

Is the 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo the first gasoline-powered vehicle to incorporate variable turbine geometry?

Porsche's variable turbine geometry (VTG) setup on the 2007 911 Turbo was developed in close cooperation with Borg Warner Turbo Systems, and is based on technology that has been widely and successfully applied to diesel engines since the early 1990s. It is nearly identical in concept to other turbo manufacturers' variable nozzle/geometry compressors, including a system that was briefly used on a series gasoline production engine in the late 1980s. This application encountered difficulties due to high operating temperatures---a problem not easily solved with contemporary materials---and production was stopped after a limited run.

After nearly two decades, aerospace-grade materials have allowed the progression of variable turbine geometry technology to the point that it can now reliably operate in the higher-temperature environment of turbocharged gasoline engines. Porsche's version of variable turbine geometry in the 2007 911 Turbo incorporates these latest material applications, plus a sophisticated control algorithm. The combination produces the advantages of both small and large turbochargers, generating a much wider plateau of torque and providing quicker response compared to the previous generation 911 Turbo, while providing the reliability of fixed-vane turbochargers.

VARIABLE TURBINE GEOMETRY POSITION STATEMENT
The variable turbine geometry (VTG) system on the 2007 911 Turbo was developed in close cooperation with Borg Warner Turbo Systems, and is based on widely and successfully applied turbodiesel technology. While nearly identical in concept to a system briefly used on gasoline production engines in the late 1980s, Porsche's current application of VTG is the first on a gasoline-powered vehicle.
TIPTRONIC S VS. 6-SPEED MANUAL BACKGROUND

Why does the 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo equipped with the optional 5-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission accelerate 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph than the 6-speed manual transmission version?

The optimized interaction between the new all-wheel-drive system, Porsche Traction Management (PTM), Tiptronic S five-speed automatic transmission, and Tiptronic-specific calibration of the engine management controls and associated variable turbine geometry (VTG) system, allows the new 911 Turbo with Tiptronic S to accelerate slightly quicker than models equipped with the manual 6-speed transmission.

Improvements to the Tiptronic S transmission in the latest 911 Turbo contribute to the performance gains. These include:

Earlier ramp-up of boost pressure when 'brake-torquing' the transmission
Increased torque build-up allowed when brake-torquing
Reduced shifting- and reaction times

If launched appropriately, a 911 Turbo equipped with Tiptronic S is essentially "pre-tensioned" at the starting line, and during acceleration runs, power-interruptions are reduced in comparison to the 6-speed manual transmission. Aiding acceleration, when paired with Tiptronic S, the all-wheel-drive system with PTM can deliver a nearly uninterrupted flow of torque to all four wheels.

With the manual transmission, engine boost pressure needs to build after clutch engagement, which can require several fractions of a second. Additionally, clutch- and wheel-slip when launching from a standstill can also make it difficult to translate engine torque into the quickest acceleration times.

In terms of providing performance to our customers, the Tiptronic S transmission has made the prodigious abilities of the 911 Turbo more accessible to a wider range of customers. In its evolution, the Tiptronic S now provides certain areas of strength in relation to the 6-speed manual, particularly in standing start acceleration numbers, an area of quantified performance that grows more challenging as peak horsepower levels continue to escalate. For those wishing to challenge themselves on a racetrack, and who prefer the control and selection of the 6-speed, the manual gearbox will remain the transmission of choice.

TIP VS. 6-SPEED POSITION STATEMENT
Due to the new variable turbine geometry (VTG) system and improved engine control technology, in addition to mechanical and electronic improvements in the Tiptronic S gearbox, the Tiptronic version of the 2007 911 Turbo accelerates 0.3 seconds faster to 0-60 mph compared to the manual transmission version.

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