My 2007 Aurion Sportivo has had the same issue for a while now. And a week ago, something went wrong at start up, and now the engine is idling with a constant kind of popping noise, and smells strongly of pure fuel from the exhaust. I suspect if it's the VVTi controller, it has now failed on mine. So, don't let anyone tell you, it doesn't matter. Because it obviously does.