Patent ID: 7917275

Claim:
A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising: in response to a driver tip-out, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels; and after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in under a first operating condition, increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more advanced than a first ignition timing to increase torque converter input speed toward torque converter output speed; further increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more retarded than said first ignition timing to limit a torque increase during a transition from torque converter input speed less than torque converter output speed to torque converter input speed greater than torque converter output speed; and then further increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more advanced than said first ignition timing to provide a torque output increase.