A portable power tool, comprising: a housing; a motor having a motor output member; a driven member; and a transmission in the housing and configured to receive a rotary input from the motor output member and to produce a rotary output that is transmitted to the driven member, the transmission having a first planetary transmission stage including a first ring gear, a first planet carrier and a plurality of first planet gears supported by the first planet carrier for meshing engagement with the first ring gear and with a first sun gear; the first sun gear is the motor output member; the first ring gear engages the housing; a second planetary transmission stage including a second ring gear, a second planet carrier and a plurality of second planet gears supported by the second planet carrier for meshing engagement with the second ring gear and with a second sun gear; a third planetary transmission stage including a third ring gear, a third planet carrier and a plurality of third planet gears supported by the third planet carrier for meshing engagement with the third ring gear and with a third sun gear; the second sun gear is fixed for rotation with the first planet carrier; the third sun gear is fixed for rotation with the second planet carrier; the third planet carrier is coupled for rotation with the driven member; wherein the second and third transmission stages may be rendered either in an active mode, which causes the respective second or third transmission stages (304, 306) to perform a speed reduction and torque multiplication operation, or may be rendered in an inactive made, which provides the respective second or third planet carrier having a speed and torque that is equal of the respective second or third sun gear; the transmission thereby operable in at least three overall speed reduction ratios; characterized in that the transmission further comprises locking elements that are selectively employed to lock second and third ring gears (360-3, 400-3) to the first and third planet carriers (314-3, 404-3) respectively whereby the locking elements include first and second idler gears (2050, 2052) that have teeth (2050a, 2052a), respectively, that may be meshingly engaged to teeth (314a, 404a), respectively, that are formed on the first and third planet carriers (314-3, 404-3) respectively. a housing; a motor having a motor output member; a driven member; and a transmission in the housing and configured to receive a rotary input from the motor output member and to produce a rotary output that is transmitted to the driven member, the transmission having a first planetary transmission stage including a first ring gear, a first planet carrier and a plurality of first planet gears supported by the first planet carrier for meshing engagement with the first ring gear and with a first sun gear; the first sun gear is the motor output member; the first ring gear engages the housing; a second planetary transmission stage including a second ring gear, a second planet carrier and a plurality of second planet gears supported by the second planet carrier for meshing engagement with the second ring gear and with a second sun gear; a third planetary transmission stage including a third ring gear, a third planet carrier and a plurality of third planet gears supported by the third planet carrier for meshing engagement with the third ring gear and with a third sun gear; the second sun gear is fixed for rotation with the first planet carrier; the third sun gear is fixed for rotation with the second planet carrier; the third planet carrier is coupled for rotation with the driven member; wherein the second and third transmission stages may be rendered either in an active mode, which causes the respective second or third transmission stages (304, 306) to perform a speed reduction and torque multiplication operation, or may be rendered in an inactive made, which provides the respective second or third planet carrier having a speed and torque that is equal of the respective second or third sun gear; the transmission thereby operable in at least three overall speed reduction ratios; characterized in that the transmission further comprises locking elements that are selectively employed to lock second and third ring gears (360-3, 400-3) to the first and third planet carriers (314-3, 404-3) respectively whereby the locking elements include first and second idler gears (2050, 2052) that have teeth (2050a, 2052a), respectively, that may be meshingly engaged to teeth (314a, 404a), respectively, that are formed on the first and third planet carriers (314-3, 404-3) respectively.