To reduce the exhaustion of NOx during acceleration.

During acceleration, the opening/closing timing of an air intake valve 9 is set to a propulsion angle side more than a normal opening/closing timing by a variable valve timing mechanism composed of a timing pulley assembly 23 and a step motor 24. Also, if an automatic transmission 44 is currently engaged in speed changing at this time, the ignition timing of an ignition plug 26 is controlled so as to reduce the output torque of an internal combustion engine 1. Thus, internal EGR is increased, the exhaustion of NOx is reduced and since the output torque of the internal combustion engine 1 is reduced, a shock caused by speed changing is reduced.