Multi-speed transmission

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, wherein the first, second, and third planetary gear sets each include a first member, a second member, and a third member and the fourth planetary gear set includes only a first member and a second member each corresponding to one of a sun gear and a carrier member, and wherein the input member is continuously connected to the first member of the second planetary gear set;

three interconnecting members each connected directly to one of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets and to one other of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets; and

seven torque transmitting devices each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets with at least one other of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets and a stationary member, and

wherein the torque transmitting devices 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.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein one of the seven torque transmitting devices is a selectable one-way clutch that selectively couples one of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets to the stationary member.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first member of the fourth planetary gear set and the first and third members of the third planetary gear set are each meshed with at least one common stepped pinion.

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the three interconnecting members include 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.

5. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the three interconnecting members include 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.

6. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the three interconnecting members include 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.

7. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the second members of the third and fourth gear sets are rotatingly coupled together.

8. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the input member.

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a second of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set, the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set and the input member.

10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a third of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set.

11. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a fourth of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member.

12. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a fifth of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

13. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a sixth of the seven torque transmitting devices is a selectable one-way clutch that is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the fourth planetary gear set, the second member of the third planetary gear set, and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

14. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a seventh of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member.

15. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the third member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set, the first member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of the first planetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gear set, the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members, the first member of the first planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set, and the third member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

16. The transmission of claim 13 wherein the second members of the third and fourth planetary gear sets both support at least one stepped pinion member.

17. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set.

18. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members each corresponding to one of a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier member, and a fourth planetary gear set having only first and second members each corresponding to one of a sun gear and carrier member;

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 the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a plurality of torque transmitting devices each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first members, second members, third members and a stationary member, wherein one of the plurality of torque transmitting devices is a one-way clutch; and

wherein the torque transmitting devices 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.