In a first illustrative embodiment, a processor operably programmed and configured to receive input defining one or more vehicle parameters to monitor and control during a vehicle rental. The processor may monitor and control the vehicle parameters during a vehicle rental period starting when an authorized user keylessly activates a vehicle during a defined start time. The processor may control driver behavior by limiting vehicle performance based on a predefined threshold of one or more vehicle parameters. The monitoring and control may continue until the rental period has expired or when the vehicle is returned to a predetermined geographic area designated by the vehicle owner. The processor may initiate wireless communication of the vehicle parameters to a vehicle rental administrative system through a cellular telephone located in proximity to the vehicle.

In a first illustrative embodiment, a processor operably programmed and configured to receive input defining one or more vehicle parameters to monitor and control during a vehicle rental. The processor may monitor and control the vehicle parameters during a vehicle rental period starting when an authorized user keylessly activates a vehicle during a defined start time. The processor may control driver behavior by limiting vehicle performance based on a predefined threshold of one or more vehicle parameters. The monitoring and control may continue until the rental period has expired or when the vehicle is returned to a predetermined geographic area designated by the vehicle owner. The processor may initiate wireless communication of the vehicle parameters to a vehicle rental administrative system through a cellular telephone located in proximity to the vehicle.

System for controlling an internal combustion engine, the system comprising stop means to stop automatically an internal combustion engine according to a predefined operating condition of the internal combustion engine, verification and/or restoration means to verify or to restore a first component of the internal combustion engine, learning means to learn a control variable of a second component of the internal combustion engine, inhibition means of the stop means to prevent/ignore an engine stop, wherein only the verification and/or restoration means, when activated, are suitable to cause an activation of the inhibition means, and wherein the learning means are enabled to activate only when the verification and/or restoration means are active.

System for controlling an internal combustion engine, the system comprising stop means to stop automatically an internal combustion engine according to a predefined operating condition of the internal combustion engine, verification and/or restoration means to verify or to restore a first component of the internal combustion engine, learning means to learn a control variable of a second component of the internal combustion engine, inhibition means of the stop means to prevent/ignore an engine stop, wherein only the verification and/or restoration means, when activated, are suitable to cause an activation of the inhibition means, and wherein the learning means are enabled to activate only when the verification and/or restoration means are active.

A method for limitation of torque build-up of an engine (230) in a motor vehicle (100, 110), including the steps of continuously identifying (s410) a pattern pertaining to a maximum permissible torque (Tqmax); responding to torque demand (s420) by guiding torque build-up towards desired torque (Tqreq); responding to torque demand by continuously determining (s440) a difference (Tqdiff; Tqdiffnorm) between maximum permissible torque (Tqmax) and a prevailing torque (Tq); and controlling the torque build-up (s460) so that the resulting torque (Tq) is a function of the continuously determined difference (Tqdiff; Tqdiffnorm). Also a computer program product containing program code (P) for a computer (200; 210; 500) for implementing a method according to the invention. Also a device that performs the method and a motor vehicle (100; 110) equipped with the device are disclosed.

A method for limitation of torque build-up of an engine (230) in a motor vehicle (100, 110), including the steps of continuously identifying (s410) a pattern pertaining to a maximum permissible torque (Tqmax); responding to torque demand (s420) by guiding torque build-up towards desired torque (Tqreq); responding to torque demand by continuously determining (s440) a difference (Tqdiff; Tqdiffnorm) between maximum permissible torque (Tqmax) and a prevailing torque (Tq); and controlling the torque build-up (s460) so that the resulting torque (Tq) is a function of the continuously determined difference (Tqdiff; Tqdiffnorm). Also a computer program product containing program code (P) for a computer (200; 210; 500) for implementing a method according to the invention. Also a device that performs the method and a motor vehicle (100; 110) equipped with the device are disclosed.

A method and electronic control unit having a functional module are provided for controlling the auto-hold function and the parking brake function in a motor vehicle, by use of a single common operating element. When the parking brake function is switched on at a standstill, the auto-hold function is simultaneously activated. When the accelerator pedal is actuated, a switched-on parking brake function is automatically switched off without the actuation of the operating element, wherein the auto-hold function remains activated. In addition, when switching off the parking brake function at a standstill, the auto-hold function is also deactivated via the actuation of the operating element.

A method of determining an amount of fuel wasted by a vehicle due to sub-optimal performance of at least one component of the vehicle includes receiving information about operation of the vehicle from at least one sensor positioned on the vehicle, categorizing, with a processor, a fuel use by the vehicle as a normal fuel use or a wasted fuel use due to the at least one component performing at a sub-optimal level by comparing the received information to expected information from the at least one sensor when the vehicle is operating at optimal performance, and determining, with the processor, the amount of fuel wasted due to the at least one component operating at the sub-optimal level based on categorized fuel use.

A method of determining an amount of fuel wasted by a vehicle due to sub-optimal performance of at least one component of the vehicle includes receiving information about operation of the vehicle from at least one sensor positioned on the vehicle, categorizing, with a processor, a fuel use by the vehicle as a normal fuel use or a wasted fuel use due to the at least one component performing at a sub-optimal level by comparing the received information to expected information from the at least one sensor when the vehicle is operating at optimal performance, and determining, with the processor, the amount of fuel wasted due to the at least one component operating at the sub-optimal level based on categorized fuel use.

An engine control system comprises: an engine 10 capable of switching between a reduced-cylinder operation mode in which combustion is stopped in a part of a plurality of cylinders 2 and an all-cylinder operation mode in which combustion is performed in all the plurality of cylinders 2; and a PCM 50 configured to stop fuel supply to the cylinders 2 when a given fuel cut-off condition is satisfied. The PCM 50 is operable, during a transition from a state in which the engine 10 is operated in the reduced-cylinder operation mode to a state in which the fuel cut-off condition is satisfied, to stop the fuel supply to the cylinders 2 at a timing earlier than that during a transition from a state in which the engine 10 is operated in the all-cylinder operation mode to the state in which the fuel cut-off condition is satisfied.