Arbitration strategy for slow response and fast response torque requests

The present disclosure relates to a system for managing engine output that includes a machine manager module and a combustion module. In one embodiment, the combustion module includes a slow response pathway and a fast response pathway. The slow response pathway includes managing air and fuel actuators and the fast response pathway includes managing spark timing. According to one embodiment, managing spark timing comprises bringing a spark actuator to the middle of a spark timing range for bi-directional control and involves sacrificing engine efficiency for engine responsiveness. Further, the fast response pathway may be selectively enabled based upon an optimization index.