INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROL METHOD

An internal combustion engine control apparatus: sets a target intake air amount and a target ignition timing, based on a target torque; predicts an increase in a load of power generation by a generator that is coupled to a power transmission system and generates electric power by being driven by an output torque of an internal combustion engine; when the load of the power generation is predicted to increase, sets an amount of increase correction on the target intake air amount, based on a power generation torque for driving the generator, and sets a retardation amount of the target ignition timing, based on a difference between the target torque and the output torque of the internal combustion engine achieved by the target intake air amount after the increase correction; and returns the target ignition timing to an advance side when a speed of the internal combustion engine suddenly drops.