Patent ID: 8915819

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, wherein the input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the third member of the second planetary gear set, and wherein the output member is continuously connected for common rotation with the second member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the third planetary gear set; a plurality of 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 two 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 four of the six torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second and third members with a stationary member, and wherein the six torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member and a first of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to directly connect the third member of the second planetary gear set and the input member with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set.