Patent ID: 8425365

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; first and second planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, first and second transfer gears each having a first member intermeshed with a second member, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to at least one of the first and second transfer gears and the output member is continuously interconnected to at least one of the first and second planetary gear sets; a layshaft continuously interconnecting the second gear of the first transfer gear with the first gear of the second transfer gear; a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set; a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set; and six torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second and third members of the first and second planetary gear sets with at least one of the first and second members of the first and second transfer gears and a stationary member, 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.