A VVA apparatus includes a control shaft arranged rotatable in accordance with
the engine operating conditions, an alteration mechanism for changing a lift amount
and an operating angle of an engine valve in accordance with rotation of the control
shaft, and a drive mechanism for rotating the control shaft and including an electric
motor and a reduction mechanism. The reduction mechanism has a reduction ratio
set to be larger when the valve is under small lift-amount and operating-angle
control than when the valve is under large lift-amount and operating-angle control.