A method for obtaining gear shifting of a vehicle, where the vehicle has a planetary gearing in the drive train, a combustion engine with an output shaft connected to a rotor of a second electric machine and to a first component of the planetary gearing, a first electric machine with a rotor connected to a third component of the planetary gearing and an input shaft of a gearbox connected to a second component of the planetary gearing. The method is started with the components of the planetary gearing interlocked by a locking means, in which they are released during the gear shifting and interlocked again after the gear shifting has been carried out.

A vehicle includes an engine, a traction motor, a clutch configured to mechanically couple the engine and traction motor, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, in response to an engine starting and achieving a target speed while the traction motor is generating torque to drive the vehicle, retard engine spark, based on an amount of engine acceleration required to achieve the target speed, to reduce engine torque, and in response to the engine torque falling below a threshold value, lock the clutch.

A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including an exhaust passage, a catalyst provided in the exhaust passage, and an electronic control unit. When the engine stop condition is established, the electronic control unit stops fuel injection and increases a catalyst inflow oxygen amount that is an amount of oxygen flowing into the catalyst by a specified oxygen increase amount. The engine stop condition is a condition for stopping operation of the internal combustion engine. The specified oxygen increase amount is larger than an increased part of the catalyst inflow oxygen amount that is increased by the stop of the fuel injection.

An operating method for a driver assistance system, in particular a cruise control system of a motor vehicle. The operating method comprises determining at least one operationally relevant road property of a road on an impending route of the motor vehicle, wherein the operationally relevant road property affects operation of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. The operating method comprises determining a driving recommendation in accordance with the operationally relevant road property on the impending route of the motor vehicle. The operating method comprises setting the variable valve gear in accordance with the driving recommendation determined.

A method for obtaining gear shifting of a vehicle, where the vehicle has a planetary gearing in the drive train, a combustion engine with an output shaft connected to a rotor of a second electric machine and to a first component of the planetary gearing, a first electric machine with a rotor connected to a third component of the planetary gearing and an input shaft of a gearbox connected to a second component of the planetary gearing. The method is started with the components of the planetary gearing interlocked by a locking means, in which they are released during the gear shifting and interlocked again after the gear shifting has been carried out.

Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range while preventing the unnecessary downshifts. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption model that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.

Systems and methods for reducing perception of transitions from shifting a transmission from neutral to drive are described. In one example, the transmission is shifted from neutral to drive in response to brake pedal motion before the brake pedal is fully released so that timing of pressurizing clutches and engaging a forward gear is advanced to occur while the brake pedal is still applied.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a continuously variable transmission are described. The systems and methods adjust engine speed according to one of a plurality of engine speed to vehicle speed profiles so that driveline noise, vibration, and harshness may be reduced. The different engine speed to vehicle speed profiles provide different levels of engine braking.

A vehicle powertrain control technique includes obtaining, by a controller, a set of parameters each indicative of a gear shift operation for an automatic transmission. Cased on the set of parameters, the controller detects whether a gear shift operation of the automatic transmission is imminent. In response to detecting that the gear shift operation of the automatic transmission is imminent, the controller (i) determines a desired reduction in powertrain output torque for performing the gear shift operation and (ii) controls the powertrain to temporarily reduce its torque output via a technique other than spark retardation. After reducing the powertrain output torque, the controller commands the automatic transmission to perform the gear shift operation. The temporary powertrain output torque reduction is achieved by controlling a variable valve control (VVC) system of an engine, such as commanding a lower valve lift profile, or decreasing power supplied to an electric motor.

A control system and method for a vehicle having a powertrain comprising a torque generating system and an automatic transmission each utilize a pedal position sensor configured to measure a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle and a controller configured to, based on the accelerator pedal position, detect a pedal tip-in or tip-out event and, in response to detecting the pedal tip-in or tip-out event: (i) determine a desired output torque for the torque generating system corresponding to the pedal tip-in or tip-out event and (ii) command the torque generating system to gradually transition, over a period, from its current output torque to the desired output torque to mitigate clunk caused by abrupt contact between gear teeth of the torque generating system shaft and the automatic transmission shaft.