CONTROLLER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A DIRECT INJECTION INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Aspects of the present invention relate to controller () for controlling operation of a direct injection internal combustion engine () having a combustion chamber (A) () for performing a plurality of operating cycles. The internal combustion engine () is configured to exhaust gases through an exhaust system () comprising a particulate filter (). The controller () is configured to receive a fuel cut signal indicative of a request to inhibit fuel injection into the combustion chamber (A) (). In dependence on the fuel cut signal, the controller () controls a fuel supply system () to inhibit fuel injection into the combustion chamber (A) () to perform one or more fuel cut operating cycle. The controller () determine a particulate loading of the particulate filter () in the exhaust system (). During the one or more fuel cut operating cycle, the controller () is configured to control operation of an intake valve () to control the introduction of intake gases into the combustion chamber (A) () in dependence on the determined particulate loading of the particulate filter. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a vehicle () incorporating the controller (); and a method of controlling operation of a direct injection internal combustion engine ().