Add Bluetooth & Apple CarPlay to Your Classic Porsche
Porsche unveils PCCM infotainment units, bringing modern features to Porsches built from the ‘60s through the ‘00s.
There is nothing like driving an older Porsche. They are rawer and more involving and offer an experience that the newest models just can’t match. However, for all the advantages of owning an older Porsche, they do demand some sacrifice as well. Nothing dates a car more than an old infotainment unit. Take a seat in a new Taycan and then jump into a 964 era 911 and the difference is stark. Porsche wants us to continue to enjoy their older models, so they came up with a solution for bringing modern tech into older cars.
It is true that you can upgrade with plenty of aftermarket options if you want a more modern experience. You can get a giant 10-inch digital multimedia receiver, but it is going to look a bit odd in say a 1983 911 SC. A bit like a sprinter getting into the blocks wearing a pair of high heels, it just does not look right.
The solution Porsche came up with is called Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM). PCCM allows buyers to install a seamlessly integrated infotainment unit into their beloved vintage model car. There are two variants to choose from, with 1-DIN or 2-DIN dimensions. The 1-DIN units are designed to work with the earliest 911s through the 993-model series cars. The unit fits perfectly in the 1-DIN slot and incorporates a couple of rotary knobs, six integrated buttons, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen display. It can easily be mistaken for an original equipment unit.
The PCCM offers a navigation module with point-of-interest search capability and offers a 2D and 3D view. Apple CarPlay is also integrated into the unit, so iPhone users can utilize apps for media playback, navigation, and telephone functions. This is a wonderful option to keep your car looking vintage but enabling it to provide the modern features to which today’s drivers are accustomed.
If you have a newer car, Porsche offers PCCM Plus. This is a 2-DIN unit designed for the 996 and 986 model Porsches. These units include a 7-inch touchscreen which, like the 1-DIN units, blend in perfectly with the original design of the car. In addition to the larger screen, the PCCM Plus units also offer Android Auto capability along with all the other features from PCCM. Another nice thing about the PCCM Plus is that the navigation displays in the instrument cluster is still supported and can be used if you so desire.
Prices for the units will be roughly $1,500 for the PCCM and $1,700 for the PCCM Plus. Contact your Porsche dealer to order. With these new units, there should be nothing standing in your way now from getting that classic Porsche you always wanted and taking it on a cross country road trip. Hopefully, other auto manufacturers will follow suit and offer similar systems for their vehicles. A Jaguar E-Type or an Aston Martin DB7 would be pretty sweet with some upgraded infotainment.
Photos: Porsche
Join the 6SpeedOnline forums now!
