The invention relates to a method and an associated device for simulating the driving characteristics of a drive concept to be developed for a motor vehicle. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and an associated device for simulating the driving characteristics of a drive concept to be developed for a motor vehicle, using which the longitudinal dynamics and the energy requirements of designed concepts are simulated, compared with one another and validated during an actual driving operation. According to the invention, in order to simulate the driving characteristics of a drive concept to be developed for a motor vehicle during an actual driving operation for a production vehicle, the engine and transmission control are influenced by means of an additional control unit in such a way that the longitudinal dynamics of the production vehicle correspond to that of a designed hybrid drive. To achieve this, the additional control unit for influencing the longitudinal dynamics of the conventional carrier vehicle intervenes in the signal path of the accelerator pedal in the carrier vehicle and can determine the position of said pedal, simulating the position of a 'virtual accelerator pedal' by means of a signal generator, thus regulating the acceleration of the vehicle. The control unit accesses the CAN data bus of the drive train of the carrier vehicle to deliver the current speed, the current gear selected and the position of the brake pedal, which represent important input variables for the simulation.