CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an engine, an electric motor, a clutch for separating connection between the engine and the electric motor, and a fluid-type transmission device including a lockup clutch and transmitting drive powers of the engine and the electric motor to drive wheels. The control apparatus includes (a) a portion configured, during motor running of the vehicle with the clutch being released, to calculate a predicted value of a rotational speed of the electric motor, depending on an operation state of the lockup clutch; (b) a portion configured to calculate a predicted value of an outputtable maximum torque of the electric motor, by using the predicted value of the rotational speed of the electric motor; (c) a portion configured to determine whether start of the engine is requested or not, by using the predicted value of the outputtable maximum torque of the electric motor.