System and method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle

A method for controlling a powertrain system of a vehicle, the powertrain system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine connectable to one or more wheels of the vehicle,
• a controllable clutch,
• a geartrain configured to be coupled to a power output shaft of the internal combustion engine by means of the controllable clutch, the geartrain comprising a gearbox output shaft configured to be drivingly connected to at least one wheel of the vehicle and receive torque from the internal combustion engine, and
• a control unit configured to selectively operate at least one of the internal combustion engine, the controllable clutch, the geartrain in at least an engine stop freewheeling mode, in which the power output shaft of the internal combustion engine is non-rotating and the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the one or more wheels,
• the method for controlling the powertrain system comprising, in the engine stop freewheeling mode, the steps of
• obtaining real-time data indicative of an emergency or hard braking event initiated by one or more service brakes of the vehicle,
• based on the obtained real-time data, sending an engaging command to the controllable clutch, and
• controlling the controllable clutch to a target torque transfer position.