An apparatus for a host vehicle comprises an input for receiving a signal indicative of a target object, an output for transmitting at least one of an acceleration message, an engine control message and a transmission control message and a processor having control logic. The control logic transmits the acceleration message to request a negative acceleration of a host vehicle in response to a signal indicating a detected target object in order to maintain a predetermined following time behind the detected target object and transmits a transmission control message to request the transmission to shift to neutral in response to the negative acceleration having a value less than a predetermined negative acceleration value.

A control apparatus for hybrid electric vehicle includes a shift operation detector and an electric motor controller. The shift operation detector detects an input of a shift operation. The electric motor controller controls an electric motor of the hybrid electric vehicle to generate motor torque directed to decreasing of torque difference, on a condition that: the input of the shift operation from a first stage into a second stage is detected by the shift operation detector; and first torque and second torque are different in magnitude from each other by the torque difference. The first torque is torque that is to be transmitted to a drive wheel during shifting of the automatic transmission. The second torque is torque that is to be transmitted to the drive wheel after the shifting of the automatic transmission is completed.

A vehicle safety device (200) for preventing an unoccupied vehicle moving uncontrollably. The device comprises a control module (201) and a brake module (203). The device (200) is configured to detect when a driver leaves said vehicle. The device (200) is also configured to activate, through the brake module (203), a braking system when the device detects that said driver has left the vehicle. The device may improve the safety of a vehicle in which it is fitted. A system (300) comprising the device (200) and a vehicle (400) comprising the system (300) are also described. A method of preventing an unoccupied vehicle moving is also described. The device, system, vehicle and method are particularly useful for preventing accidents in large commercial vehicles caused by a driver leaving the vehicle without engaging a parking brake.

Provided is a hydraulic pressure control device. A hydraulic pressure control device includes a solenoid valve configured to supply hydraulic pressure to switch between an engaged state and a released state of a lock-up clutch, and a transmission control device configured to control the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve supplies hydraulic pressure to switch between a parking locked state and a parking released state of a parking lock mechanism, in addition to switching of the lock-up clutch.

Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle during an end of assembly line test are presented. In one example, torque of an integrated starter/generator (ISG) is adjusted so that the ISG may not affect engine data that is collected during end of assembly line engine testing. The collected engine data may be a basis for adapting engine operation.

A vehicle control method includes, by a controller, while an engine is auto-stopped and an electric parking brake is engaged, auto-starting the engine without releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of an accelerator pedal less than a predefined amount, and auto-starting the engine and releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of the accelerator pedal greater than the predefined amount. The method also includes comprising auto-stopping the engine and engaging the electric parking brake responsive to vehicle speed being less than a predefined threshold speed.

Methods and systems are provided for identifying degradation of a belt-driven integrated starter generator (BISG) active belt tensioner coupled to a vehicle engine. By using the monitored change in FEAD load to compare the actual state of the tensioner (either in retracted or extended state) relative to the commanded state, the presence of excess belt tension may be distinguished from the presence of insufficient belt tension. Timely diagnosis of a belt tensioner may be improve belt health and extend fuel economy benefits of a BISG system.

A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.

An automatic transmission performs a shift-up operation when the accelerator pedal is released from a depression during a vehicle is running. An engine rotation speed immediately after the shift-up operation is predicted on the basis of the engine rotation speed and a gear ratio of the transmission after the shift-up operation. When a fuel recovery is predicted to be performed immediately after the shift-up operation, the fuel recovery is advanced such that it is performed in the inertial phase of the transmission.

A vehicle system includes a processor programmed to establish communication between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, identify one of the vehicles as a towing vehicle and the other as a towed vehicle, and limit operation of the towing vehicle according to constraints associated with the towed vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicle system detects that the towing vehicle is flat-towing the towed vehicle and that the towed vehicle is not operating in a neutral tow mode.