Patent ID: 8876652

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