Planetary transmission having common carrier for generating six forward and two reverse drive ratios

An automatic transmission for a vehicle comprising:

• an input shaft adapted to be driven by a source of power;
• an output shaft;
• and
• first, second and third planetary gearsets having a common carrier.

A vehicle comprising:

• a body;
• a plurality of wheels supporting the body;
• a drive source mounted in the body;
• and
• a powertrain for transferring power from the drive source to the plurality of wheels, said powertrain including a multiple-speed ratio automatic transmission including:
• an input shaft driven by the drive source;
• an output shaft drivingly connected to the plurality of wheels;
• a first planetary gearset including a first sun gear, a first composite gear defining both a first ring gear and a second sun gear, a common carrier, and a first planet pinion set rotatably supported on the common carrier and drivingly engaged with both the first sun gear and the first composite gear;
• a second planetary gearset including a second ring gear, a second planet pinion set rotatably supported on the common carrier and drivingly engaged with the first composite gear, and a second composite gear defining both a second ring gear and a third ring gear;
• and
• a third planetary gearset including a third sun gear, and a third planet pinion set rotatably supported on the common carrier and drivingly engaged with both the third sun gear and the second composite gear.