Driving force control apparatus and driving force control method

Abstract

In a driving force control apparatus and a driving force control method, a curve ahead of a vehicle is detected; a target vehicle speed is set to pass the curve; a starting-point shift speed is set to pass the starting point of the curve; and an end-point shift speed is set to pass the end point of the curve. After a shift speed is changed to the starting-point shift speed, it is determined whether an additional engine brake is required at the starting-point shift speed. If it is determined that the engine brake is not required, the shift speed is changed to the end-point shift speed. Alternatively, if a vehicle speed is lower than or equal to a value corresponding to the target vehicle speed after the shift speed is changed to the starting-point shift speed, the shift speed is changed to the end-point shift speed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.