Patent ID: 7998017

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