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Continental is using the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover this month to preview a control system technology that could save fuel and emissions by giving the engine and drivetrain advance warning of the road ahead.

The eHorizon concept provides other vehicle systems with a digital map preview with information about the road ahead as well as topographical information.

The aim is that with this information, the other systems can optimise their performance in the knowledge of what is coming: changing gear, or delaying a change, for example, depending on whether there is a hill or a bend coming.

The data comes from the navigation system or, in the basic eHorizon control unit, directly from the GPS, gyroscope and wheel-speed information. This map data is then transmitted to other control devices through the vehicle's standard CanBus. Individual control units recreate the data in a format that is relevant to their function.

The system has been designed to integrate with existing control units and with Continental's own integrated navigation system.

Continental says that the concept should provide fuel savings and greater traffic safety. In one application, the adaptive cruise control is integrated with the navigation system, but the eHorizon concept will increase the range of devices that can be connected, it says.

It sees applications in commercial vehicles as well as cars and says in the medium term eHorizon will be a key component in raising energy efficiency in hybrid and electric vehicles by determining through advanced warnings the way the vehicle should be driving.

Volume production of the system is scheduled for 2012.