A hybrid drive apparatus includes an engine, a first electric motor for generating
electric power by using at least a portion of its output and for controlling the
speed of the engine and a control unit for controlling the engine and the first
electric motor. The control unit performs a prepositioning control for positioning
the engine being fuel-cut to a predetermined cranking start position such as a
constant crank angle position or a constant cranking load position by the motoring
of the first electric motor. As a result, the engine can always be started under
identical conditions, and the torque vibrations to be outputted to a wheel have
identical waveforms so that a simple torque correction can be made by outputting
corresponding waveform data.