Patent ID: 7988587

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a carrier member, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected to the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set; a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set; a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set; and six torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear members, ring gear members and carrier members with at least another of the sun gear members, ring gear members, carrier members and a stationary element, and wherein 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.