A mode shift assembly for a transmission, the mode shift assembly comprising a first side coupled to a rotational input, the first side including a first engagement surface having an imaginary center corresponding generally to the axis of rotation of the input, the first engagement surface formed to include a plurality of channels that increase in size as they extend radially, wherein the radially extending channels each define an axis that extends along the length of the channel, wherein a cross-section of each channel defines a v-shaped profile, a second side coupled to a rotational output, the second side including a second engagement surface having an imaginary center corresponding generally to the axis of rotation of the rotational input, the second engagement surface formed to include a plurality of splines that increase in size as they extend radially and sized to engage the channels of the first engagement surface, wherein each radially extending spline defines an axis that extends along the length of the spline, and wherein a cross-section of each of the splines defines a v-shaped profile, and an actuator configured to act on the first side to move the first side between a first position in which the first and second engagement surfaces are disengaged such that rotation between the first and second sides is independent and a second position in which the first and second engagement surfaces are engaged such that rotation is transferred from the first side to the second side, wherein the first side is biased to the first position, wherein the actuator is selectively actuable between a de-energized state and an energized state, wherein, in the energized state, the bias of the first side is overcome to move the first side to the second position, and wherein each channel defines a taper angle that engages a respective spline such that during rotation of the first and second sides an axial force is induced between the splines and the channels of sufficient magnitude to cause the first side to disengage from the second side when the actuator is de-energized. a first side coupled to a rotational input, the first side including a first engagement surface having an imaginary center corresponding generally to the axis of rotation of the input, the first engagement surface formed to include a plurality of channels that increase in size as they extend radially, wherein the radially extending channels each define an axis that extends along the length of the channel, wherein a cross-section of each channel defines a v-shaped profile, a second side coupled to a rotational output, the second side including a second engagement surface having an imaginary center corresponding generally to the axis of rotation of the rotational input, the second engagement surface formed to include a plurality of splines that increase in size as they extend radially and sized to engage the channels of the first engagement surface, wherein each radially extending spline defines an axis that extends along the length of the spline, and wherein a cross-section of each of the splines defines a v-shaped profile, and an actuator configured to act on the first side to move the first side between a first position in which the first and second engagement surfaces are disengaged such that rotation between the first and second sides is independent and a second position in which the first and second engagement surfaces are engaged such that rotation is transferred from the first side to the second side, wherein the first side is biased to the first position, wherein the actuator is selectively actuable between a de-energized state and an energized state, wherein, in the energized state, the bias of the first side is overcome to move the first side to the second position, and wherein each channel defines a taper angle that engages a respective spline such that during rotation of the first and second sides an axial force is induced between the splines and the channels of sufficient magnitude to cause the first side to disengage from the second side when the actuator is de-energized.