Vehicle control apparatus

A vehicle control apparatus comprising:

• an electric motor coupled to a first wheel, a second wheel, or both of a hybrid vehicle;
• a transmission;
• an engine coupled to the first wheel, the second wheel, or both via the transmission;
• and
• a control system including a processor and memory that are communicably coupled to each other, the control system being configured to control the engine, the electric motor, and the transmission, wherein
• the control system is configured to:
• execute a first speed mode or a second speed mode as a speed mode of the transmission on a basis of a driving operation performed by a driver who drives the hybrid vehicle;
• set a speed ratio on a lower side in the second speed mode than in the first speed mode in a case where an accelerator operation performed by the driver is cancelled, such that an engine speed is maintained without decreasing, wherein the speed ratio is set to the lower side as a value of a ratio of the transmission increases, and the value of the ratio of the transmission indicates a ratio of a revolution speed of an input shaft of the transmission to a revolution speed of an output shaft of the transmission;
• execute a first assist mode or a second assist mode as an assist mode in which the electric motor is brought into a power-running state, the second assist mode having greater power-running torque than the first assist mode;
• and
• switch the assist mode to the second assist mode in a case where an amount of the accelerator operation performed by the driver is increased greater than a starting threshold while the second speed mode is being executed.