Model Predictive Control of a Motor Vehicle

A processor unit () is configured for executing an MPC algorithm () for model predictive control of a motor vehicle (). The MPC algorithm () includes a longitudinal dynamic model () of the motor vehicle () and a cost function () to be minimized. The cost function () includes multiple terms, a first term of which represents an output of the cooling pump (). In addition, the processor unit () is configured for, by executing the MPC algorithm () as a function of the longitudinal dynamic model (), ascertaining a speed trajectory of the motor vehicle () situated within a prediction horizon and simultaneously ascertaining a pump operating value trajectory situated within the prediction horizon such that the first term of the cost function () is minimized.