Patent ID: 8016711

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 torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the input member; a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set and the input member; a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set; a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third 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 third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set; and a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the third planetary gear set with a stationary member, wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable to establish each of at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, and wherein at least two torque transmitting mechanisms are disengaged in each of the at least eight forward speed ratios and the at least one reverse speed ratio.