Gear and clutch arrangement for multi-speed transmission

A transmission comprising:

• an input member;
• an output member;
• a transmission housing having a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall extending between the first and second walls;
• a first, second and third planetary gear set disposed within the transmission housing, wherein the third planetary gear set is adjacent the first wall, the second planetary gear set is adjacent second wall, and the first planetary gear set is between the second and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a planet carrier member supporting a plurality of planet gears each configured to intermesh with at least one of the sun gear member and the ring gear member, wherein the output member is continuously interconnected with the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set, wherein the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the transmission housing, wherein the planet carrier member of the second planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set, and;
• wherein the transmission housing has a first area defined radially inward from an outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first wall and the third planetary gear set, a second area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first and third planetary gear sets, a third area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first and second planetary gear sets, a fourth area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the second planetary gear set and the second wall, and a fifth area defined radially inward from the third wall and radially outward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first wall and the second wall;
• a first clutch selectively engageable to interconnect the input member and the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set with the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set;
• a second clutch selectively engageable to interconnect the input member and the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set with the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set;
• a third clutch selectively engageable to interconnect the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set;
• a fourth clutch selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set;
• a fifth clutch selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set;
• a brake selectively engageable to interconnect the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set to the transmission housing;
• wherein the first clutch is disposed in the third area, the second clutch is disposed in at least one of the third and fourth areas, the third clutch is disposed in the second area, the fourth clutch is disposed in second area, the fifth clutch is disposed in at least one of the third, fourth and fifth areas, and the brake is disposed in at least one of the first, fourth and fifth areas;
• and
• wherein the clutches and the brake are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.