Vehicle control apparatus having means for preventing interference between transmission controls by running stability control means and manual shift control means

An apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle having an engine and an automatic transmission having a plurality of hydraulically operated frictional coupling devices, said apparatus comprising:

• running stability control means operated upon reduction of stability of running of the vehicle below a predetermined threshold, for controlling at least one of an output of said engine, a braking force applied to the vehicle and an established position of said automatic transmission, so as to improve the stability of running of the vehicle;
• manual shifting control means responsive to an operation of a manual shifting device, for shifting said automatic transmission;
• running stability control detecting means for detecting an operation of said running stability control means;
• and
• manual shifting control inhibiting means, operable upon detection of said operation of said running stability control means by said running stability control detecting means, for inhibiting an operation of said manual shifting control means while said running stability control means is operated to control said automatic transmission.