Methods and systems are provided for entering into a parked state in a hybrid electric vehicle that includes a dual clutch transmission. In one example, a driveline operating method comprises in response to a first condition, engaging a first gear and engaging a second gear of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to enter a vehicle park state where an output of a transmission is held from rotating, and in response to a second condition, engaging a third gear and engaging a fourth gear of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to enter a vehicle park state. In this way, a park state may be entered into without the use of a park pawl, which may reduce costs associated with the vehicle and which may prevent issues associated with degradation of the park pawl.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting clutch pressures and electric machine torques as a function of a stability metric threshold(s) in order to balance performance and charging of an onboard energy storage device. In one example, a method comprises during an upshift of a transmission from a first gear to a second gear, adjusting a clutch pressure of the transmission to adjust slippage of a clutch in response to a vehicle stability control parameter exceeding a threshold. In this way, torque delivered to a transmission output shaft may be reduced, which may increase vehicle stability.

An electromechanical power transmission chain comprises an electrical machine (101) connectable to a combustion engine and to a mechanical load, a storage circuit (104) for storing electrical energy, an electronic power converter (109) for transferring electrical energy between the storage circuit and the electrical machine, and a control system (110) for controlling the combustion engine and the electronic power converter. The control system controls the electronic power converter to transfer electrical energy from the storage circuit to the electrical machine in response to a peak-load situation where power demand of the mechanical load is above an advantageous power range of the combustion engine. The control system limits the fuel supply of the combustion engine during the peak-load situation so as to restrain the fuel consumption from increasing due to the peak-load situation.

A vehicle method for barometric pressure identification, including adjusting engine operation responsive to barometric pressure, the barometric pressure based on a pressure change at a sector of the fuel system when the sector is sealed with the vehicle travelling. The method may utilize a pressure change at the sealed sector of the fuel system, such as a sealed fuel tank, to identify barometric pressure, even with the engine off for extended durations of vehicle travel. As such, in a hybrid-vehicle application, including during hill descents in which the engine is maintained off, barometric pressure can still be updated.

A device for controlling an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, in particular, an electrified hybrid vehicle with a traction electric machine. The internal combustion engine has multiple cylinders, each of which is equipped with at least one outlet valve which can be switched to two stages. An electronic control unit controls: i) suppression of each of a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine for at least one work cycle, wherein the outlet valves are kept closed, ii) actuation of the outlet valves and the inlet valves of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine in a synchronized manner, and iii) after the suppression process has ended, opening of the outlet valve at least in the first cylinder when the inlet valve is closed, and the enclosed gas is pushed out without being injected and ignited.

There is provided a driving assistance device. When there is a possibility that weather influences a detection performance of a vehicle detection unit configured to detect a preceding vehicle traveling in front of a subject vehicle and to measure an inter-vehicular distance to the preceding vehicle, a speed reduction control assistance unit enables a speed reduction control unit to perform a primary speed reduction control at a predetermined distance ahead of an entry or an exit of a tunnel-shaped road structure. Thereafter, when the vehicle detection unit detects the preceding vehicle and the inter-vehicular distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the speed reduction control assistance unit enables the speed reduction control unit to perform a secondary speed reduction control.

A method for controlling a vehicle power train that includes a heat engine connected to the transmission of the vehicle by a clutch controlled between an open position and a closed position of the transmission by a computer of the transmission exchanging information with a computer of the heat engine. The method includes sending, in order to shut down the engine before the clutch is opened when the vehicle is in motion, the kinematic chain being closed and the injection interrupted, a message from the computer of the transmission to the computer of the engine at a first moment in time so as to synchronize an opening of the clutch and the closure of an air flap of the engine at a second moment in time subsequent to the first moment.

There is provided a driving assistance device. When there is a possibility that weather influences a detection performance of a vehicle detection unit configured to detect a preceding vehicle traveling in front of a subject vehicle and to measure an inter-vehicular distance to the preceding vehicle, a speed reduction control assistance unit enables a speed reduction control unit to perform a primary speed reduction control at a predetermined distance ahead of an entry or an exit of a tunnel-shaped road structure. Thereafter, when the vehicle detection unit detects the preceding vehicle and the inter-vehicular distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the speed reduction control assistance unit enables the speed reduction control unit to perform a secondary speed reduction control.

A hybrid vehicle includes a controller that executes catalyst warm-up control for warming up a catalyst, including first control that operates an internal combustion engine at a first operating point, and second control, after executing the first control, that operates the engine at a second operating point irrespective of driving force required to propel the vehicle. Engine output at the second point is larger than engine output at the first point. Ignition timing of the engine at the time when the first control is executed is controlled to a retarded side with respect to an ignition timing of the engine at the time when the second control is executed. When the second control is executed, at least one of a valve lift of an intake valve and a valve operating angle of the intake valve increases as charging of an electrical storage device is more limited.

An approach is provided in which a powertrain synchronizer analyzes condition data that corresponds to impending conditions external to a vehicle. The powertrain synchronizer predicts a driver's future action in response analyzing the condition data and adjusts the vehicle's powertrain subsystem based upon the predicted driver action.