In a hybrid automobile in which a first motor, an engine, and a drive shaft coupled to an axle are connected respectively to a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear of a planetary gear set and a second motor is connected to the drive shaft, during a predetermined travel period in which the engine is operative and respective gates of a first inverter and a second inverter used to drive the first motor and the second motor are both blocked, the engine is controlled such that the first motor rotates at a predetermined rotation speed, and a boost converter is controlled such that a voltage of a drive voltage system power line reaches a target voltage corresponding to an accelerator depression amount.

A convoy travel apparatus for organizing a convoy of vehicles is provided. The convoy travel apparatus controls at least one of the convoy of vehicles to change lanes to a lane that is opposite to a merging lane when it is determined that the convoy of vehicles approaches a merge point of a multi-lane road and a currently traveling lane of the convoy of vehicles has the merge point. In such a lane change scheme, a vehicle having no communication device may merge into the multi-lane road without compromising a ride comfort of the convoy of vehicles.

A startup control device includes a vehicle temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the vehicle, a vehicle startup controller configured to select the second vehicle startup mode in a low temperature state in which the temperature of the vehicle is equal to or smaller than at least a first temperature judgment value when the request of the startup of the vehicle is sensed, and to select the third vehicle startup mode in an extremely low temperature state in which the temperature of the vehicle is equal to or smaller than a second vehicle temperature judgment value which is smaller than the first temperature judgment value when the request of the startup of the vehicle is sensed.

A vehicle control device is configured to execute a fuel cut control for stopping fuel supply to an internal combustion engine in response to a deceleration request to a vehicle; disengage a lock-up clutch and open a throttle of the vehicle during execution of fuel cut control; execute motor assist in a case where there is an acceleration request to a vehicle while the lock-up clutch is disengaged and the throttle is opened; and execute a motor torque reduction control for temporarily reducing an output from an electric motor based on a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and a rotation speed of a main shaft during the execution of the motor assist.

A vehicle control device is configured to: execute a fuel cut control for stopping fuel supply to the internal combustion engine in response to a deceleration request to the vehicle; engage the lock-up clutch and open a throttle of the vehicle during the execution of the fuel cut control; close the throttle and execute the motor assist in a case where there is an acceleration request to the vehicle while the lock-up clutch is engaged, the throttle is opened, and the fuel cut control is executed; end the fuel cut control and resume fuel supply to the internal combustion engine when an intake pressure of the internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined startable negative pressure after the throttle is closed; and disengage the lock-up clutch when the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is resumed.

A vehicle is provided including an electronic power steering system, an electronic throttle control system, and a stability control system.

Methods and systems are provided for improving engine restart operations occurring during a transmission shift in a hybrid vehicle. Engine speed is controller during cranking and run-up to approach a transmission input shaft speed that is based on the future gear of the transmission shift. Engine speed is controlled via adjustments to spark, throttle, and/or fuel, to expedite engine speed reaching the synchronous speed.

An output limiting control is carried out for limiting an output of a driving source when an acceleration pedal as well as a brake pedal is operated at the same time. An acceleration opening degree for a malfunction diagnosis is set based on a detected acceleration opening degree. A required output value for the malfunction diagnosis is calculated based on the acceleration opening degree for the malfunction diagnosis. A malfunction determining threshold is set in accordance with the required output value. An estimated output value of the driving source is compared with the malfunction determining threshold in order to determine whether there is a malfunction in a control system for the driving source. The acceleration opening degree for the malfunction diagnosis is limited to a predetermined limiting value, when the acceleration and brake pedal are operated at the same time.

A vehicle is provided including an electronic power steering system, an electronic throttle control system, and a stability control system.

A method for improving operating a vehicle that includes an accelerator pedal is disclosed. In one example, the method assesses a vehicle for accelerator pedal degradation and applies control actions to the vehicle is accelerator pedal degradation is determined. The control actions may include adjusting a throttle position and adjusting vehicle brakes.