A vehicle propulsion system includes an oncoming condition sensor that generates an oncoming condition signal, a continuously variable transmission with a variator assembly adapted to transfer torquebetween a first rotating member and a second rotating member through a flexible continuous device rotatably coupling the first rotating member to the second rotating member, one of the first rotatingmember and second rotating member including a clamping pulley adapted to controllably adjust a clamping force on the flexible continuous device, and a controller in communication with the oncoming condition sensor and the continuously variable transmission that is programmed to characterize an oncoming condition based upon the oncoming condition signal and to control the clamping pulley to adjustthe clamping force based on the characterization of the oncoming condition.