The invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicular powertrain by monitoring a map preview information. A method of operating a vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine includes monitoring map preview information, determining a projected vehicle path based upon the map preview information, determining likely engine operation demands along the projected vehicle path, wherein the likely engine operation demands include likely required engine speeds and likely required engine loads, determining selectable engine operating modes at each likely engine operating demand, and executing engine operation based upon the selectable engine operating modes.