An engine start control system for a vehicle having an engine connected via an input shaft to an electrically variable transmission comprising a first electric motor and a second electric motor, said control system comprising: a supervisory controller adapted to input vehicle operating conditions and driver inputs (PEDAL INPUTS, VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS), said supervisory controller adapted to determine and output a plurality of torque limits (Ta_Lim, Tb_Lim), a desired output torque (To_des), and an optimum engine speed (Ne_opt); an input shaft speed profiler adapted to generate and output an input shaft speed profile (ni_prof) and an input shaft acceleration profile ( ni_prof) based on the optimum engine speed (Ne_opt); a constraints evaluator adapted to generate and output a requested output torque (To_req) based on the plurality of torque limits (Ta_Lim, Tb_Lim) and desired output torque (To_des); a feedforward controller adapted to generate first and second feedforward motor torques (TbFF, TaFF) based on the requested output torque (To req) and the input shaft speed (ni_prof) and input shaft acceleration profiles( ni _ prof); a feedback controller adapted to generate first and second feedback motor torques (TaFB, TbFB) based on a difference between the input shaft speed profile (ni_prof) and an actual input shaft speed (ni); a first electric motor controller that receives a summation of the first feedforward (TaFF) and feedback torques (TaFB) and generates an actual first motor torque (TaACT) used to control the first electric motor when the engine is being turned on or off; and a second electric motor controller that receives a summation of the second feedforward (TbFF) and feedback (TbFB)torques and generates an actual second motor torque (TbACT) used to control the second electric motor when the engine is being turned on or off. a supervisory controller adapted to input vehicle operating conditions and driver inputs (PEDAL INPUTS, VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS), said supervisory controller adapted to determine and output a plurality of torque limits (Ta_Lim, Tb_Lim), a desired output torque (To_des), and an optimum engine speed (Ne_opt); an input shaft speed profiler adapted to generate and output an input shaft speed profile (ni_prof) and an input shaft acceleration profile ( ni_prof) based on the optimum engine speed (Ne_opt); a constraints evaluator adapted to generate and output a requested output torque (To_req) based on the plurality of torque limits (Ta_Lim, Tb_Lim) and desired output torque (To_des); a feedforward controller adapted to generate first and second feedforward motor torques (TbFF, TaFF) based on the requested output torque (To req) and the input shaft speed (ni_prof) and input shaft acceleration profiles( ni _ prof); a feedback controller adapted to generate first and second feedback motor torques (TaFB, TbFB) based on a difference between the input shaft speed profile (ni_prof) and an actual input shaft speed (ni); a first electric motor controller that receives a summation of the first feedforward (TaFF) and feedback torques (TaFB) and generates an actual first motor torque (TaACT) used to control the first electric motor when the engine is being turned on or off; and a second electric motor controller that receives a summation of the second feedforward (TbFF) and feedback (TbFB)torques and generates an actual second motor torque (TbACT) used to control the second electric motor when the engine is being turned on or off.