A powertrain system for a vehicle operates in one of a plurality of powertrain propulsion modes including an engine-only drive mode, an electric-only (EV) drive mode, a regenerative braking mode, a coasting mode and an engine/electric-assist mode. The vehicle also includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor, a vehicle navigation system, a telematics system, a vehicle spatial monitoring system and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to determine a trajectory for the vehicle, and determine road conditions, traffic conditions and surface conditions based upon the trajectory for the vehicle and the road conditions, traffic conditions and surface conditions. One of the powertrain propulsion modes is selected based upon the trajectory for the vehicle and the road conditions, traffic conditions and surface conditions. Operation of the hybrid powertrain system is controlled in the selected propulsion mode.