An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control apparatus and a vehicle control method capable of improving traceability when a speed reduction torque is applied. A vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention is configured to calculate the speed reduction torque to be generated on a vehicle based on an accelerator operation state and a front wheel slip angle. More specifically, when being brought into a turning state while a coasting torque is applied, the vehicle control apparatus makes a correction so as to reduce an absolute value of the coasting torque, thereby improving the traceability and the drivability.

A control device for a four wheel drive vehicle. Differential limitation is applied to both of right and left rear wheels, with 2WD_d state being maintained, by executing two wheel control for engaging or half-engaging a first clutch and a second clutch. As the two wheel drive control is executed, a moment that suppresses the rotation speed difference between the right and left rear wheels acts on the right and left rear wheels even in the 2WD_d state. When the rotation speed difference occurs between the right and left rear wheels, a braking force is allowed to act on the vehicle wheel on the high rotation side and a driving force is allowed to act on the vehicle wheel on the low rotation side through the execution of the two wheel drive control so that a stable moment acts on the vehicle without a transition to a 4WD state.

A control device for a four wheel drive vehicle. Differential limitation is applied to both of right and left rear wheels, with 2WD_d state being maintained, by executing two wheel control for engaging or half-engaging a first clutch and a second clutch. As the two wheel drive control is executed, a moment that suppresses the rotation speed difference between the right and left rear wheels acts on the right and left rear wheels even in the 2WD_d state. When the rotation speed difference occurs between the right and left rear wheels, a braking force is allowed to act on the vehicle wheel on the high rotation side and a driving force is allowed to act on the vehicle wheel on the low rotation side through the execution of the two wheel drive control so that a stable moment acts on the vehicle without a transition to a 4WD state.

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle includes a power steering adjuster that adjusts an amount of an assistance in a steering to be provided by a power steering in accordance with a change in a state quantity related to an ease of a steering, and a steering stability controller that controls a control amount to perform a driving force control on a wheel of a vehicle in accordance with the change in the state quantity.

The present invention is a minimum size, maneuverable, comfortable, safe, and inexpensive compact vehicle, having a higher level of cornering/turning stability than the current state of the art. The inventive design may be applied to two-, three-, and four- (or more) wheeled vehicles. The invention may be utilized in the design of the main components of vehicles providing an increased stability during turning, even at high speeds, based on fixed and moveable chassis portions which swing in relation to one another and novel linking mechanisms connected with large and/or wide wheel portions.