Industry Insider: MTI Racing

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MTI Racing's PPG sequential transmission

An exclusive US distributor for PPG (Pfitzner Performance Gearbox), MTI racing has developed a one-of-a-kind sequential transmission. This six-speed box has computer controls to interface with the Corvette engine management and drive-by-wire to handle both clutchless upshifts as well as rev-matched downshifts! At around half the cost of an Xtrac, except that it includes the electronics, this is a trick unit. It's not just for Corvettes, though.

MTI Racing's “twincharged” Camaro

Meet MTI's “twincharged” fifth generation Camaro. It makes over 1200HP using two rear-mounted turbos with a Zex nitrous oxide system for helping spool the snails. It is ludicrously fast, and is being built by the shop for half-mile racing. Why a sequential transmission? Why drag racing? Why half mile? Because pumping all that power through their gearbox at WOT a half-mile at a time seemed like a pretty good way to test the durability of the system.

The sequential transmission doesn't look that out of place

You can see the gear indicator mounted on the dash and the shift assembly appears to fit perfectly in the stock shifter location. The shift knob has a load cell in it so that it knows when you are pushing or pulling the shifter. The computer then appropriately modifies ignition based on up/down as well as which gear, and other factors. Currently this prototype Camaro version shares some space with the cup holders, but who has time for a beverage when you're topping out at 200MPH? Don't worry – there's a revision coming that will let you keep your drinks secure. MTI is working on a more generic version of the transmission ECU to allow for clutchless-upshift integration with any engine management system – even stock. This particular Camaro has a factory ECU retuned via EFI Live.

MTI's custom designed C5/C6 sequential shifter

Here's an example of the shift assembly for the sequential Corvette shifter. If you didn't know, modern Corvettes use a rear-mounted transmission. A special shift assembly and linkage needed to be engineered to turn the single-plane shifter motion into a rotational motion to actuate the innards of the transmission. That engineering was done by MTI. And that's not all!

A Mustang sequential transmission in development

MTI doesn't limit themselves to just Corvettes, as we'll soon see. Here is an example of a 2000 Mustang Cobra R transmission that is undergoing the sequential treatment. The same PPG dog ring internals are used in the Tremec T5 housing, but a custom actuation and shifter assembly was required, again, to move the transmission internals. Not only did MTI design all of this awesome, they made it, too.