Control device for hybrid vehicle

A hybrid vehicle control device comprising:

• an engine;
• a motor;
• a first clutch disposed in a driving force transmission path between the engine and the motor;
• a second clutch disposed in a driving force transmission path between the motor and a drive wheel;
• and
• an engine start control section programmed to begin an engine start control when a mode transition request to change to a hybrid vehicle mode occurs due to an accelerator operation while traveling in an electric vehicle mode in which the first clutch is opened, the engine start control section beginning engagement of the first clutch after slip engagement of the second clutch is determined and starting the engine using the motor as a starter motor,
• the engine start control section having a negative slip detecting/predicting section configured to detect or predict if a slip polarity of the second clutch has transitioned from positive slip to negative slip after the engine start control has begun and before the engine has started, and a forced backup start control section programmed to start the engine with the second clutch in a fully engaged state when a transition of the second clutch to negative slip has been detected or predicted.