The new generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM 6.0) is characterised by a host of new functions as well as much easier and more intuitive operation. Thanks to over-the-air technology (OTA), the system will now always be up to date. It continually learns more about the user and their habits, enabling content that is customised and tailored to them.

Porsche has long been a pioneer when it comes to integrating Apple Music into its infotainment systems. The seamless and holistic integration of the music streaming service into the PCM is new. Porsche drivers can now use Apple Music and Apple Podcasts as easily and conveniently as the other in-house Connect offerings, such as online radio.

A basic version of PCM 6.0 was used in the all-electric Porsche Taycan for the first time. The Porsche 911, Cayenne and Panamera will now be fitted with this new, further-enhanced PCM generation.

Everything at a glance: new display and operating concept

In addition to new functions, PCM provides an optimised display and operating concept with a new font, revised icons and colour adaptations. The result is a calmer and more refined look. Only the most necessary information is displayed, thereby further ensuring that the driver’s attention remains focused on the road. The user interface of the central display has also been optimised. Larger touch areas, which are therefore easier to operate, are now available to the driver.

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PCM 6.0 — Functions

To summarise the most important menus and what is new:

• The home screen provides direct access to the system’s most important functions. It can be personalised: by rearranging the tiles, the driver can group frequently used functions together in a clear manner. This can be done by long-pressing the tile.
• All vehicle functions are grouped in the Car menu. The vehicle-specific settings are categorised into the areas of Drive, Assistance, Trip and Comfort and are quick and easy to operate. Function selection is supported by high-quality 3D graphics, rendered in real time.
• In the Notifications menu, the driver has access to many forms of communication. These include phone calls, messages and system messages from Porsche. They are presented in a structured manner and the system provides possible reactions to the message, such as the option to respond to it.
• Also new and clearly arranged, the route monitor in the Navigation menu is another abstract rendering. Route plans and any events that are occurring are presented on a timeline.

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Thanks to multi-modal operation, Porsche drivers now have multiple ways of making entries or accessing information. An example is Touch and Speed in the navigation system. A combination of voice and touch can be used when entering a destination. Touch a point on the map and a command of “Take me there” from the driver uncomplicatedly starts route guidance.

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The homescreen can be personalised.

Hears every word: natural voice control

“Hey Porsche” activates the enhanced voice assistant. Alternatively, it can also be activated by touching an icon on the screen or via the relevant steering wheel button. Thanks to online assistance, the voice control system now understands more phrases from everyday speech and can manage without predefined commands. For example, the phrase “I need petrol” can be used to start a search in the navigation system for a nearby filling station. Another example is the way that saying “I am cold” increases the temperature setting on the automatic air conditioning by two degrees.

Also new is that not only communication and navigation, but also vehicle functions such as massage seats, air conditioning and ambient lighting can be controlled by voice input. The online connection ensures that the speech recognition system is capable of learning, so is always up to date. If there is no data connection, Voice Pilot uses the PCM’s offline voice control system.All vehicle functions are grouped in the Car menu.

Avoid traffic jams in real time: intelligent navigation

The new hardware and software architecture of the PCM is significantly more powerful, meaning that route calculation in the vehicle is even faster. Online updates are used to keep the mapping for the navigation system up to date. The relevant map data is automatically selected and downloaded based on current position and planned route, which is particularly convenient. The customer does not need to select any regions or worry about the implementation of the update.

Route calculation is in real time. Traffic information is also used for visually marking the road display, and even individual lanes, depending on the traffic situation: with the help of different colour shades, the driver can see at a glance how much traffic there is in a particular lane.

Navigation Plus, the navigation service of Porsche Connect, has become more intelligent. An example is that route calculation can take into account the fact that the Porsche is towing a trailer such as a caravan. If the relevant setting is selected from the menu, the lower speed of the vehicle and trailer is included when calculating arrival time.

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Finder is the central navigation search function and can be accessed by the user at any time via the PCM start screen. It makes use of two search functions: Porsche search (in the Porsche database, online and offline) and Google search (online only). Porsche search is the default search engine. If no search result is found there, Google search can be used as an alternative.

When searching for points of interest (POIs) such as petrol or charging stations, restaurants or attractions, Finder now prefers to use the Internet. Thanks to improved performance, these online results are available much quicker. Offline searches are only used when there is no Internet connection.

Risk Radar is available in some markets. This function uses information from the driver assist systems as swarm data to notify of local hazards. Thanks to the online connection, the system will now know the current speed limit even more reliably.*

Map view has been significantly reduced and its design is now clearer, which applies to both day and night modes. Simpler global searches support the customer when entering navigation destinations. In Speller, the keyboard interface for spelling, letters do not have to be typed in individually. A special field allows entries to be handwritten.

Apple Car Play and Android Auto

With Apple Car Play and now also Android Auto, all phone functions and smartphone apps that do not compromise driving safety can be operated via PCM 6.0. Even if the majority of its customers are users of Apple’s iOS, with the full integration of Android Auto, Porsche is now following suit with the inclusion of mobile phones with this operating system from Google. Pairing is easy.

A button starts and stops voice input: a short press activates the PCM voice assistant, while a long press starts the Siri (Apple CarPlay) or Google Assistant (Android Auto) digital aids.

Seamlessly integrated: Apple Music and Apple Podcasts

Apple Music and Apple Podcasts are deeply integrated into the new PCM. To use Apple Music and Apple Podcasts in the vehicle, the customer just needs to link their Apple ID with their Porsche account once.

With Apple Music, Porsche drivers have ad-free access to more than 75 million music tracks that can be played through the car’s sound system. The latest innovations are that the driver can add a song that they hear on the radio to an Apple playlist so that they can listen to it again later or, if the driver likes a particular artist on the radio, the driver can switch over to a “specific Apple Music station“ that will only play their songs.

The Porsche Taycan was the first vehicle in the world to integrate the globally leading podcast platform, Apple Podcasts. Drivers of other Porsche models can also now select and listen to millions of broadcasts in more than 100 languages via the central display. Apple Podcasts are displayed in the PCM as an independent media source.

From E for enhanced manual to R for route monitor: further innovations

• 'Good to know – the manual' is a digital operating handbook. As long as the vehicle is stationary, the manual's contents can be conveniently searched with the help of keywords while animated content about vehicle functions can be called up. With 'Good to know – the enhanced manual' it is now also possible to stream short explanatory videos – provided that the vehicle is connected.
• The calendar service facilitates synchronisation of appointments between vehicle and smartphone. The Porsche Connect app can be used to display calendar entries from a smartphone in the PCM, including contacts and saved addresses. The reminder function is new and it is also now possible to display the organiser of an event and the start and end of multi-day events.
• The PCM calendar can be linked to online calendars in Google and Microsoft Office 365. Pairing is easy via a QR code in the vehicle’s display. Furthermore, Porsche drivers can dial into telephone and video conferences using the calendar service if a smartphone is connected to the car.
• In the News service, it is now possible to directly search for and save RSS news feeds in the PCM and to add them to one's personal favourites. The RSS file format is used for machine-readable news messages.
• The route monitor in the Navigation menu now displays the route plan and any impending events in a clear manner on a timeline.

All vehicle functions are grouped in the Car menu.

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*Function initially available only in Germany with Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to follow