Patent ID: 8007393

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the third member of the third planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected to the third member of the first planetary gear set; a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set; a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the second planetary gear set; six torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first, second, and third members of the first, second and third planetary gear sets with at least one other of the first, second, third members, and a stationary element, wherein a first of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to directly interconnect the first member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set, a second of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to directly interconnect the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set, a third of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to directly interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set, a fourth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to directly interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the input member, and a fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to directly interconnect the first member of the third planetary clear set with the stationary element; and the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.