Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle drive system

A control apparatus for a drive system of a hybrid vehicle including (a) an engine, (b) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a first electric motor, and a differential mechanism operatively connected to the engine and the first electric motor and a differential state of which is controlled by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, (c) a mechanical transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path, and (d) a second electric motor connected to the power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and a drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle, said control apparatus comprising:

• a control portion being configured to implement an engine-speed rise for raising an operating speed of the engine with a shifting action of said mechanical transmission portion before an initiation of ignition of the engine;
• and
• said control portion operable when a terminal portion of said shifting action of said mechanical transmission portion and said initiation of ignition of said engine overlap each other, said control portion being configured to implement one of said shifting action and said initiation of ignition prior to the other.