Vehicle drive control apparatus and method

A vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity;
• a plurality of drive power sources that rotate a drive wheel via the power transfer device;
• and
• a controller that:
• controls an operation of a vehicle in a plurality of run modes that differ in states of operation with respect to the drive power sources;
• and
• increases the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device when the run mode is changed.

A vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity;
• a drive power source that rotates a drive wheel via the power transfer device;
• and
• a controller that increases the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device if the vehicle descends in a direction opposite to a vehicle starting direction.

A vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity;
• a plurality of drive power sources that rotate a drive wheel via the power transfer device;
• and
• control means for controlling an operation of a vehicle in a plurality of run modes that differ in states of operation with respect to the drive power sources;
• and
• torque capacity changing means for changing the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device in accordance with the plurality of run modes.

A vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity;
• a plurality of drive power sources that rotate a drive wheel via the power transfer device;
• and
• control means for controlling an operation of a vehicle in a plurality of run modes that differ in states of operation with respect to the drive power sources;
• and
• mode change-time torque capacity increasing means for increasing the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device when the run mode is changed.

A vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity;
• a plurality of drive power sources that rotate a drive wheel via the power transfer device;
• and
• descent-time transfer torque capacity increasing means for increasing the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device if the vehicle descends in a direction opposite to a vehicle starting direction.