Methods and systems for assisted direct start control

A method for controlling a vehicle engine coupled to a stepped-gear-ratio transmission, comprising:

• in response to a first vehicle moving condition, both shutting down the engine and at least partially disengaging the transmission while a vehicle is moving;
• and
• during a subsequent restart, while the vehicle is moving, starting the engine using starter motor assistance and adjusting a degree of engagement of a transmission clutch to adjust a torque transmitted to a wheel of the vehicle, wherein adjusting the degree of engagement of the transmission clutch during the restart includes, engaging the transmission clutch and adjusting an amount of clutch slippage, the amount of clutch slippage adjusted responsive to an engine speed and a driver demanded torque, wherein adjusting the amount of clutch slippage responsive to engine speed includes, increasing the amount of clutch slippage when the engine speed is below a threshold and decreasing the amount of clutch slippage when the engine speed is above the threshold.