Arrangement for controlling the output power of a drive unit of a motor vehicle

In a motor vehicle having a drive unit including a drive motor for generating an output torque, a transmission unit and a power transmitting device including a torque converter interconnecting the drive motor and transmission unit for transmitting torque therebetween with the power transmitting device having an output torque, the transmission unit having a transmission ratio U and the torque converter having an amplification V, an arrangement for controlling the output power of the drive unit, the arrangement comprising:

• signal means for supplying a signal indicative of a driver command;
• a control apparatus including:
• first means for determining a desired value (m.sub.-- ab.sub.-- des) for the output torque of said drive motor occurring at the output end of said power transmitting device;
• second means for determining a desired value for a drive motor torque (m.sub.-- mot) from said desired value (m.sub.-- ab.sub.-- des) of said output torque and from variables representing said transmission ratio U of said transmission unit and the amplification V of said torque converter;
• said second means functioning to provide said desired value for said drive motor torque (m.sub.-- mot) to adjust said desired value (m.sub.-- ab.sub.-- des) of said output torque;
• and,
• third means for controlling said drive motor torque (m.sub.-- mot) in accordance with said desired value (m.sub.-- ab.sub.-- des).