To prevent the torque from abnormally lowering by giving the priority of the cylinder reduction to a bank where an abnormal variable valve timing mechanism (VVT) exists, in a case of the cylinder reduction.

When the cylinder reduction is instructed by the setting of the number above 1 as the number of cylinders to be reduced (nfc) by the traction control, the priority of the cylinder reduction is given to #2 cylinder, #4 cylinder and #6 cylinder belonging to a left bank when the abnormality is found in a left VVT ('YES' in S120), in a VVT (S130-S210), and the priority of the cylinder reduction is given to #1 cylinder, #3 cylinder and #5 cylinder belonging to a right bank when the abnormality is found in the right VVT ('NOI' in S120) (S220-S300). That is, the cylinder of which the torque output is deteriorated, is reduced with the priority on the basis of the abnormality of the VVT when the VVT is abnormal, so that the torque output is not suddenly lowered in the cylinder reduction process. Whereby the generation of the engine stall in the cylinder reduction can be prevented.