Drive unit for a motor vehicle

A drive unit for a motor vehicle with - an internal combustion engine, which comprises an internal combustion engine (10) as well as an exhaust system, via which exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine (10) can be discharged, - a cycle apparatus, which can be used for converting thermal energy contained in the exhaust gas into mechanical work in a clockwise thermodynamic cycle process, wherein the cycle process - comprises a heat transfer from the exhaust gas to a working medium in a first heat exchanger device, whereby the temperature and/or the pressure of the working medium is increased, - comprises an expansion of the working medium in an expansion device (30) for the generation of the mechanical work, and - comprises a heat transfer from the working medium to a coolant in a second heat exchanger device, - a heat accumulator (54), which is provided for the absorption of thermal energy of the exhaust gas and for the delivery of thermal energy as required, additionally has a device, in particular comprising a navigation system (74), for prognosticating a driving profile to be traveled in the future, wherein a control of the heat transfer to the cycle apparatus and/or the heat accumulator (54) and/or a heat output from the heat accumulator (54) takes place in dependence on the prognosticated driving profile.