In one aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising an engine, the vehicle being operable automatically to stop the engine responsive to a determination that the engine is not required to provide torque to drive the vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises control means operable to monitor a value of one or more parameters associated with the vehicle during a drive cycle, the control means being arranged automatically to determine whether a current driving style of a driver corresponds to an economy-oriented driving style or a performance-oriented driving style responsive to the value of the one or more parameters over time during the drive cycle, the control means being operable to over-ride stopping of the engine when it is determined that the driving style of the driver corresponds to a performance-oriented style.

The present invention relates to a vehicle control unit (20). The vehicle control unit (20) comprises an input (26) for detecting a start demand and a driving condition. The vehicle control module also comprises a control module (28) arranged to control an engine start attribute according to a first profile (34) and a second profile (36). The vehicle control module (20) also comprises a selection module (30) arranged to select between the first and second profiles (34, 36) based on detecting a predetermined driving condition, in response to detecting a start demand.

A vehicle includes an engine and a controller. The controller starts the engine in response to a brake status before and during a change in vehicle operating mode achieving predetermined states, and expiration of a timer initiated upon completion of the change and having a duration based upon a learned mean mode-specific shift time window. The change is initiated in response to a request to change vehicle operating mode while the engine is off.

A method to control engine stop-start in a vehicle is provided. The method includes a controller outputting an engine command to auto-start an engine based on detection of shifter position change to one of a first set of shifter positions and whether a first predetermined time threshold has expired following the shifter position change in response to presence of an engine auto-stop mode and one of a set of preselected drive modes. The vehicle may include an engine, a traction battery, and a controller. The traction battery selectively powers components of the vehicle when the engine is auto-stopped. The controller is programmed to, in response to detecting an engine auto-stop condition, one of a set of preselected drive modes, and a shifter position change to one of a first set of shifter positions with a brake application, output an engine command to engage engine auto-start.

An idle stop condition determination method of an engine includes: calculating and storing a fuel saving estimation amount in idle stop of an engine on the basis of traveling information; calculating the amount of fuel consumption in restarting for restarting, when an idle stop condition of the engine is satisfied; comparing the magnitudes of the fuel saving estimation amount with the amount of fuel consumption in restarting, and stopping the engine in accordance with the result of the comparing; and restarting the engine, when a restarting condition of the engine is satisfied.