Mexican handbook transmission manufacturing specialist Tremec marks 60 years in enterprise in 2024, a time that finds that its core enterprise is below menace by the pattern away from handbook transmissions for combustion automobiles and away from combustion automobiles to EVs that usually make use of single-speed transmissions of their electrical drive models.
Tremec’s T-5 handbook transmission was the new setup for ‘80s automobiles just like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Pontiac Firebird. In the course of the ‘90s, Tremec delivered the 6-speed T-56 gearbox, whose increased torque capability happy the necessities for the V-10 Dodge Viper. However trendy automobiles use transmissions that don’t make use of a clutch pedal and that shift gears robotically. The corporate even makes the inner gears utilized in a lot of the Class 8 vans on American roads.
In response to the pattern away from its unique manual-shift merchandise, Tremec has developed dual-clutch transmission know-how that’s utilized by high-profile halo fashions, such because the Maserati MC20, the Chevrolet Corvette, and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Concurrently, the corporate is plotting a course to electrification, experiences Matt Memmer, director of engineering and program administration.
“You possibly can see the place the market was shifting,” he recalled. An instantaneous response to that was so as to add know-how to these acquainted transmissions to include options equivalent to computerized rev matching for downshifts, to flatter drivers who may want some assist with this job in a conventional H-pattern manual-shifter transmission.
Greedy Automation
“As we’ve seen the manuals decline, the query was, “How will we evolve and get into the automated facet of the enterprise?” Memmer recalled. “For us, a torque converter computerized was not the best factor. A dual-clutch transmission is successfully two handbook gearboxes with quite a lot of advanced controls.”
To handle these advanced controls, in 2012 Tremec’s company guardian, Grupo Kuo, acquired Belgian mechatronics and software program specialist Hoerbiger Mechatonics BVBA, making it Tremec’s Belgian location. On the time, Hoerbiger offered management programs for the Ferrari 458, AMG SLS, and McLaren MP4-12C tremendous sports activities automobiles. “By combining Tremec’s power within the mechanical facet of the transmission, and Hoerbiger’s power in software program and mechatronics, we had been capable of construct the 9080 within the Corvette and the 9070 that went into the GT500 Mustang,” Memmer stated.
The Maserati and the Corvette each use Tremec’s TR-9080 8-speed transaxle, whereas the now-out-of-production GT500 used the TR-9070 7-speed transmission in a standard longitudinal front-engine, rear-drive orientation. These transmissions share lots of the similar inner parts and management programs, however clearly, the TR-9080s are in a distinct case that includes a differential than the TR-9070 makes use of.
Individuality Issues
Even the 2 transaxles have vital variations that replicate the completely different characters of the automobiles they’re utilized in. “[Maserati] wanted a transaxle that match into the car, may deal with the engine’s energy, and might be refined to do what they wanted that car to do,” he stated. “The MC20 isn’t the identical automobile because the Corvette.”
“The Maserati seems like Maserati,” Memmer continued. “Our software program actually is vital to how we try this. We’re capable of combine that into the car and ship the DNA of what that automobile is. For those who drive these two automobiles they’re fairly completely different although that transmission is essentially the identical.” The variations embody the transmission’s shift technique and shift modes. “That’s what Maserati was on the lookout for, so they may give that attribute and really feel they needed.”
Maserati MC20 Cielo. MASERATI
Having to tease out the refined variations between two very quick high-end sports activities automobiles is all in a day’s work at Tremec. “The very best a part of my job is that we work on automobiles which can be phenomenal automobiles,” Memmer chuckled. “It’s enjoyable to work on these automobiles.”
Constructing a transaxle required Tremec to develop new technical capabilities and manufacturing DCT transaxles for 2 fashions required extra capability, so Tremec added workers and constructed a brand new facility in Wixom, Michigan. “Producing a transaxle with the differential built-in as nicely required us increase our staff,” Memmer stated.
“The DTCs are assembled in Wixom, a plant constructed particularly to construct that DCT,” he stated. “We’re considered one of few Mexican firms that constructed a plant in Michigan. That didn’t exist once we began improvement for Corvette and Mustang. My staff has grown dramatically over that time frame.”
Electrical Drive
This build-up has let Tremec develop the know-how to maneuver from transmissions for combustion engines to finish electrical drive models. “That put within the basis to go from the DCT world to the electrification facet of the enterprise,” Memmer stated. “The engineering doesn’t care about which product we’re engaged on.”
Tremec’s conventional give attention to fanatic automobiles is useful because it strikes into electrical automobiles. “The objective isn’t just to go quick however be enjoyable to drive and be participating,” he stated. “We see that carry over into the electrical house. In some instances, the efficiency facet is forward of the mainstream.”
“Tremec has all the time been about not attempting to be the very high-volume me-too product,” Memmer continued. “We attempt to differentiate on know-how and work with prospects to make the product match.”
The Corvette’s TR-9080 DCT. DAN CARNEY
That product for the EV market is definitely two merchandise: a single-motor resolution that drives the wheels by means of a differential and a dual-motor unit that assigns one motor to every facet of the axle to offer torque vectoring.
Tremec’s technique is to supply carmakers plug-and-play choices to offer a high-performance variant of current fashions with as little effort and price as potential. The only motor direct drive unit makes about 400 horsepower and is appropriate for adapting front-engine, rear-drive combustion automobiles to rear-drive as an aftermarket product.
For OEMs, Tremec presents an 800-hp dual-motor drive unit that may ship 4,000 newton-meters of torque to the left and proper wheels, every, with torque vectoring. Considerably, it tits in most current chassis, letting carmakers add a extra highly effective model of an current mannequin. “We are able to provide a capability to place in a 600-kW dual-motor system with out having to vary the chassis.” Memmer stated.
As a efficiency improve, the Tremec drive unit employs silicon-carbide energy electronics as a part of an total give attention to thermal administration, in order that these automobiles can be utilized for monitor days. “We wish to have the ability to do a whole monitor session with out thermal points that trigger the drive unit to de-rate,” he defined.
These merchandise are present process testing now for supply as quickly as subsequent 12 months. “We’ve acquired a lot of demo automobiles and dealing with the primary model of these going into manufacturing,” Memmer stated. Requested whether or not Tremec has a manufacturing contract for its electrical drive unit, he clarified, saying, “Now we have improvement contracts working towards manufacturing contracts.”
The ensuing automobiles may seem subsequent 12 months, he added, saying, “We’re comparatively shut.”
The twin clutches that give a dual-clutch transmission its title, as seen within the TR-9080. DAN CARNEY
The Future
These motors make use of electrical motors that use everlasting magnets due to their benefit in energy density. However Tremec may be very conscious of the considerations surrounding the rare-earth metals utilized by such motors, and the corporate has its eye on options to eradicate uncommon earths in future merchandise.
“We’ve acquired a number of the most power-dense options in the marketplace,” stated Memmer. “That’s an area that’s evolving rapidly.” Potential options embody axial-flux motors, as McLaren and Lamborghini have utilized to the hybrid-electric fashions. “Axial flux is considerably restricted for our purposes,” Memmer famous.
“The objective is eliminating uncommon earth content material,” he stated. “Within the subsequent few years, there are different choices we’ll attempt to ingrate. SPM [Surface Permanent Magnet] efficiency, however not use uncommon earths; that may be a fantastic resolution.”
