In the vehicle of the invention, when the temperature of an inverter 42
for driving a motor MG2 linked to front wheels 62a and 62b reaches or
exceeds a preset restriction start temperature, the drive control of the
invention controls the inverters 42 and 43 to gradually decrease the
output torque of the motor MG2 simultaneously with a gradual increase in
output torque of a motor MG3, which is linked to rear wheels 64a and 64b.
Such torque control ensures output of a torque demand required for the
vehicle. When the temperature of the inverter 42 reaches or exceeds a
preset frequency switchover temperature, which is higher than the
restriction start temperature, the drive control of the invention
controls the inverters 42 and 43 to lower a switching frequency of
transistors T1 to T6 in the inverter 42 and to ensure output of the
torque demand. Such drive control effectively relieves the load of the
inverter 42, while decreasing the frequency of lowering the switching
frequency of the inverter 42. This arrangement thus desirably attains
both prevention of overheat of the inverter 42 and reduces the switching
noise.