10 the transmission 10 is illustrated as a rear wheel drive or longitudinal transmission though various other types of transmission configurations may be employed the transmission 10 includes a transmission housing 11 an input shaft or member 12 and an output shaft or member 14 the input member 12 is continuously connected to an engine not shown or to a turbine of a torque converter not shown the output member 14 is continuously connected with a final drive unit not shown or transfer case not shown the transmission 10 includes a first planetary gear set 16 a second planetary gear set 18 a third planetary gear set 20 and a fourth planetary gear set 22 the planetary gear sets 16 18 20 and 22 are connected between the input member 12 and the output member 14 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the planetary gear set 16 includes a sun gear member 24 a ring gear member 26 and a planet carrier member 28 that rotatably supports a set of planet or pinion gears 30 only one of which is shown the pinion gears 30 are configured to intermesh with the sun gear member 24 and the ring gear member 26 the sun gear member 24 is connected for common rotation with a first shaft or intermediate member 32 and a second shaft or intermediate member 34 it should be appreciated that the first intermediate member 32 is connected for common rotation with the second intermediate member 34 and that the intermediate members 32 and 34 may form one single shaft or multiple shafts through one or more members of the planetary gear sets as seen throughout the several views the ring gear member 26 is connected for common rotation.