Patent ID: 8117932

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth gear set each having a first gear and a second gear, wherein the output member is directly, continuously intermeshed with one of the gear sets; a first interconnecting member continuously connected to the fifth and sixth gear sets; a second interconnecting member continuously connected with the third and fourth gear sets; a countershaft continuously connected to the first, second, seventh, and eighth gear sets; a dual clutch assembly selectively engageable to interconnect the input member with one of the first interconnecting member and the second interconnecting member; and four synchronizer assemblies each for selectively coupling one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth gear sets with one of the first interconnecting member, second interconnecting member, and the countershaft, and wherein the dual clutch assembly and four synchronizer assemblies are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.