To increase drivability during the switching of a control mode by reducing torque shock during the switching of the control mode of a variable valve lift device.

When an estimated control mode signal is switched over, a difference between a base ignition advance angle value calculated immediately after the estimated control mode signal is switched over and a base ignition advance angle value calculated immediately before the estimated control mode signal is switched over is obtained as an ignition advance angle value corrected value. During a control mode switching delay period (a period by a time when the control mode of the variable valve lift device is actually switched over after the estimated control mode signal is switched over), a base ignition advance angle value corresponding to the control mode indicated by the estimated control mode signal after the switching over is calculated. By correcting the base ignition advance angle value by using the ignition advance angle value correction value, the base ignition advance angle value is corrected to near the base ignition advance angle value corresponding to the control mode (actual control mode of the variable valve lift device) before switching over.

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