Control apparatus for vehicle and control method for engine

An engine control method for a control apparatus for a vehicle,

• the control apparatus for a vehicle including:
• a distance sensor configured to detect a preceding vehicle;
• an inter-vehicle distance control unit configured to, if set to be active, perform an inter-vehicle distance control in which the vehicle travels by following the preceding vehicle with an inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the vehicle speed while the preceding vehicle is detected by the distance sensor, and travels at a preset constant vehicle speed while the preceding vehicle is not detected by the distance sensor;
• an engine stop-start unit configured to stop the engine when an engine stop condition is satisfied and starts the engine when an engine start condition is satisfied;
• and
• a vehicle stop state maintenance unit configured to provide a braking force for maintaining the vehicle in the vehicle stop state,
• wherein the engine stop-start unit is configured to stop the engine, by activation of the vehicle stop state maintenance unit in the case where the vehicle is stopped by the inter-vehicle distance control unit or the vehicle is stopped by operation of a brake pedal,
• the engine control method comprising:
• a step in which after the vehicle is stopped by operation of the brake pedal, if the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active in the vehicle stop state, an engine operation control unit is configured to maintain an operation state of the engine before the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active to continue to maintain the vehicle stop state.