Systems and methods for improving fuel economy and reducing emissions

A system for a vehicle, comprising:

• an engine with a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder with a fuel injector for delivering fuel thereto;
• an intake valve and an exhaust valve for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, the intake valve and the exhaust valve capable of variable valve lift;
• and
• a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that when executed, cause the controller to:
• receive a vehicle speed reduction request, and in response, command the fuel injector for each cylinder to stop injecting fuel;
• command the exhaust valve for each cylinder to zero valve lift, and operate the intake valve of one or more cylinders to reduce a speed of the engine;
• seal the plurality of cylinders by controlling the intake valve and the exhaust valve for each cylinder to zero valve lift responsive to the speed of the engine reaching a first speed that is within a first threshold speed of an engine idle speed while maintaining the engine unfueled;
• and
• stop the engine at a desired stopping position responsive to the speed of the engine reaching a second speed that is a second threshold speed below the engine idle speed, while the vehicle is in motion.