Patent ID: 7988588

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 second planetary gear set; a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set; a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set; a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set; a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set; a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set; a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set; a fifth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary element; and a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary element, 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.