Engine torque reserve techniques for optimizing drag racing transient response

1. A control system for controlling launch of a vehicle, the control system comprising:

an input device configured to receive a request to enable a launch control feature of a traction control system of the vehicle, the launch control feature being configured to improve torque transfer from an engine of the vehicle to a driveline of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to:

in response to receiving the enable request for the launch control feature, generate a torque reserve at the engine by:

(i) increasing airflow into the engine to a level greater than a level for achieving a torque request for the engine, and

(ii) deactivating a predetermined set of cylinders of the engine by disabling their respective fuel injectors;

detect an intent of the driver to launch the vehicle; and

in response to detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle, release the torque reserve to increase a torque output of the engine based on the engine torque request.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined set of cylinders are selected based on a firing order of the cylinders of the engine such that operating the engine with the predetermined set of cylinders deactivated (i) increases noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) of the engine and (ii) modifies an exhaust note of an exhaust system of the vehicle.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to increase the airflow into the engine to the level greater than the level for achieving the engine torque request by:

further opening a throttle valve of the engine; and

closing a bypass valve of a supercharger of the engine.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to release the torque reserve by:

enabling the disabled fuel injectors to reactivate the predetermined set of cylinders; and

controlling the airflow into the engine based on the engine torque request.

5. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to release the torque reserve according to a predetermined curve that is calibrated for minimized tire slippage.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle based on a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the input device is configured to receive the launch control feature request upon the vehicle transitioning to a drag mode during which a transbrake feature maintains the vehicle at a complete stop without the driver applying a brake pedal of the vehicle.

8. A method of controlling launch of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller of the vehicle and from an input device of the vehicle, a request to enable a launch control feature of a traction control system of the vehicle, the launch control feature being configured to improve torque transfer from an engine of the vehicle to a driveline of the vehicle; and

in response to receiving the enable request for the launch control feature:

generating, by the controller, a torque reserve at the engine by:

(i) increasing airflow into the engine to a level greater than a level for achieving a torque request of the engine, and

(ii) deactivating a predetermined set of cylinders of the engine by disabling their respective fuel injectors;

detecting, by the controller, an intent of the driver to haunch the vehicle; and

in response to detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle, releasing, by the controller, the torque reserve to increase a torque output of the engine based on the engine torque request.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined set of cylinders are selected based on a firing order of the cylinders of the engine such that operating the engine with the predetermined set of cylinders deactivated (i) increases noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) of the engine and (ii) modifies an exhaust note of an exhaust system of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein increasing the airflow into the engine to the level greater than the level for achieving the engine torque request comprises:

further opening, by the controller, a throttle valve of the engine; and

closing, by the controller, a bypass valve of a supercharger of the engine.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein releasing the torque reserve comprises:

enabling, by the controller, the disabled fuel injectors to reactivate the predetermined set of cylinders; and

controlling, by the controller, the airflow into the engine based on the engine torque request.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein releasing the torque reserve is performed according to a predetermined curve that is calibrated for minimized tire slippage.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle is performed based on a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the input device is configured to receive the launch control feature request upon the vehicle transitioning to a drag mode during which a transbrake feature maintains the vehicle at a complete stop without the driver applying a brake pedal of the vehicle.