A computing device-implemented method includes receiving data representative of one or more operational parameters for a vehicle, calculating the fuel rate required for an internal combustion engine of the vehicle to respond to the operational parameters, determining if the required fuel rate exceeds a threshold which would cause a state change in the performance of the internal combustion engine, if the required fuel rate exceeds the threshold, calculating an amount of assistance required for an electric hybrid traction motor to provide to a drivetrain of the vehicle to implement the received operational parameters of the vehicle, and providing the amount of assistance to the drivetrain of the vehicle, thereby preventing the state change in the performance of the internal combustion engine.

A method for automatically changing the engine exhaust sound in conjunction with the traveling mode implemented by the exhaust system applied to the vehicle may vary the valve opening of an electronic variable valve provided in a first tail pipe of first and second tail pipes of muffler discharging the exhaust gas coming from an engine by a mode recognition logic connected to an engine ECU to the atmosphere, and control the variation of the valve opening with the engine torque and the engine RPM based on a change in an accelerator pedal stroke in any one of a SMART DRIVE MODE-ECO state, a SMART DRIVE MODE-COMFORT state, and a SMART DRIVE MODE-SPORT state, implementing a quiet engine exhaust sound and a sporty engine exhaust sound depending on various vehicle traveling states provided by the SMART DRIVE MODE and increasing vehicle/engine outputs.

A method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine and at least one switchable mechanism. The mechanism can be switched to change an operating state influencing a fuel consumption and switching causes an increased fuel consumption. It is proposed that a torque and a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine are predicted depending on a current operating situation, that a dwell time of the mechanism in a switching state is predicted depending on the torque and the rotational speed, and that the mechanism for changing the operating state is actuated depending on the dwell time.

Methods and systems are provided for optimizing engine climate control performance and fuel economy in engines configured with start/stop capabilities. Climate control inhibits of start/stop actions are adjusted as a function of operator driving habits and climate control inputs and preferences. The approach enables climate performance to be improved while also allowing for frequent idle-stop operation.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for employing a mode expansion module to increase a number of operating modes in which a vehicle can operate. The mode expansion module can operate as a computing device, which can be connected to an existing vehicle for sending and receiving both sensor signals and engine control signals. The mode expansion module can be controlled by a user using an existing vehicle control switch that is connected to the vehicle, and can leverage connections to an existing display panel in the vehicle in order to indicate to the user the operating mode that has been selected. Furthermore, when a particular mode of the mode expansion module is selected, the mode expansion module can modify control commands being transmitted from an existing engine control module, and/or modify sensor signals being provided to the existing engine control module.

Methods and systems are provided for enhancing and delivering engine sounds to a vehicle cabin based on a selected mode. In one example, a method may include adjusting openings of one or more valves fluidically coupling one or more corresponding engine regions to a sound tube of a sound enhancing system based on the selected mode. Throttle opening may also be adjusted to compensate for air routed from the engine regions to the sound tube instead of flowing to the engine cylinders.

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 device for controlling driving of a vehicle includes: a detector to acquire driving information, driver information, and surrounding environment information about the vehicle, and a controller to determine whether to activate a safety driving mode based on at least one of the driving information, driver information, and surrounding environment information about the vehicle, and to determine whether to maintain the safety driving mode state based on a vehicle state after the activation of the safety driving mode. Thus, the device may support a safety driving of the vehicle by restricting a speed of the vehicle even when the driver incorrectly operates an accelerator pedal in place of a brake pedal of the vehicle.

Methods and systems are provided for providing torque reserve via an electrically assisted turbocharger. A portion of requested torque reserve is provided by intentionally reducing turbine speed of an electric turbocharger by operating the associated electric motor as a generator. The resulting reduction in air mass allows for the torque reserve to be provided with reduced reliance on spark and throttle based torque reserve.

A method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The drive device has a compressor, which can be driven by an electric motor for supplying combustion fresh gas to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. At a power increase of the internal combustion engine, the compressor is driven with the electric motor so that a torque curve selected from a plurality of different torque curves is established at the internal combustion engine over its rotational speed.