Torque control method and apparatus for internal combustion engine and

Abstract

Torque control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. A value of a desired drive shaft torque for the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke for thereby controlling a drive shaft torque of the motor vehicle so as to assume the desired drive shaft torque value by controlling a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of the engine to at least a drive shaft of the motor vehicle on the basis of the value of the desired drive shaft torque as determined. A gear ratio of the transmission gear and a flow rate of intake air fed to the engine are determined through different procedures in dependence on whether or not a torque transfer mechanism coupling the output shaft of the engine to an input shaft of the transmission gear is in a lock-up state in which the output shaft and the input shaft are coupled directly without slip. The drive shaft torque of the motor vehicle is so controlled that it assumes the desired drive shaft torque by controlling the transmission gear and engine intake air flow rate such that the determined gear ratio and the determined intake air flow rate can be realized.