Running Head: SEQUENTIAL GEARBOXAbstractThis article will discuss the technology of sequential gearboxes. A relatively new technology, the sequential gearbox has been mainly applied in ATVs, motorcycles and the auto racing industry. Recently this technology has started to reach passenger cars. There are three main points of discussion; the workings of a manual gearbox, how a sequential gearbox works and its advantages, and its applications today. The sequential gearbox is extremely revolutionary and is only used in high-end passenger cars, but perhaps one day it will be a luxury that most of the population will be able to experience. Sequential Gearboxes The sequential gearbox is a very interesting twist on a manual transmission. It dates back to the early 20th century; used mainly on motorcycles and other off-road equipment during the World Wars (Italy, 1993). Since then this transmission has exploded not only in the racing world but also in the car world (Immell, 1994). Sequential transmissions have several advantages over a standard manual transmission. To further understand the concept of a sequential gearbox you need to know the basics of how a transmission works and therefore fully understand the benefits of a sequential gearbox. Manual Transmission Basics Cars or motorcycles require transmissions due to the physics of the gasoline engine. First of all any engine has a redline. A red line is the maximum rpm above which the engine cannot go without exploding and sending pieces flying everywhere. Transmissions use gears and gear ratios to keep the engine running below its redline. Secondly, transmissions are necessary to keep the engine in the maximum torque range. Without transmission the engine would not be efficient at all, because it would never stay in the rev range with the most power (Brain, n.d.). The whole philosophy behind the gear shift is to keep the engine in the best operating range possible. When we talk about transmissions, we essentially distinguish two different types; automatic and manual. A manual transmission simply means that the driver has to change his own gears. An automatic transmission selects the... center of the paper... will be possible in the future. References Brain, M. (n.d.) How sequential transmissions work. Retrieved March 27, 2005, from http://auto.howstuffworks.com/sequential-gearbox.htmBrejcha, M. (1993). Automatic and Transaxial Transmissions: Fundamentals of Operation, 31-50. New Jersey. Prentice Hall. Immell, M. (1994). Cars Connecting People and Places, 36-51. San Diego. Lucent Books Inc. Italy. B. (1993). The big car manufacturers and their cars. The Oliver Press Inc. Minneapolis.Markus, F. (2002 July). BMW M3 SMG. Car and driver. Retrieved March 26, 2005, from http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=16& article_id=1878&page_number=1Stone, M. (August 2002). Elusive business. Motor tendency. Retrieved March 26, 2005, from http://motortrend.com/features/11_0208_trans/index.htm