Method for rapidly raising the engine temperature and exhaust gas temperature of a cold internal combustion engine for a vehicle to an exhaust gas temperature which is above a predetermined temperature threshold value for the regeneration of a particle filter in a regeneration operating state, wherein the method comprises the following steps: • switching to a pre-heating operating state in which pre-heating of exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine is carried out, ° if the temperature of the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is higher than a predetermined cooling water temperature threshold value, and/or ° if the temperature of the exhaust gases is higher than a lower exhaust gas temperature threshold value, and/or ° if the vehicle has travelled a predetermined distance since the start of the internal combustion engine, • dividing a quantity of fuel which is to be subsequently injected within the engine into a number of post-injections (Poll, Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine during the pre-heating operating state, wherein in the pre-heating operating state a quantity of fuel within the engine in the first post-injection (Poll), and by dividing the quantity of fuel of the second post-injection within the engine a number (n; n > 1) of two post-injections (Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine are performed with reduced quantities of fuel per post-injection (Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine, wherein the number of post-injections (Poll, Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine is higher than the number of post-injections within the engine in the regeneration operating state or a preparation operating state in which the regeneration operating state is directly switched to in order to prepare for regeneration, and • exiting the pre-heating operating state of the internal combustion engine in order to regenerate the particle filter and switch the internal combustion engine to the preparation operating state or to the regeneration operating state if the temperature of the exhaust gases is above an upper exhaust gas temperature threshold value during a predetermined time interval. • switching to a pre-heating operating state in which pre-heating of exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine is carried out, ° if the temperature of the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is higher than a predetermined cooling water temperature threshold value, and/or ° if the temperature of the exhaust gases is higher than a lower exhaust gas temperature threshold value, and/or ° if the vehicle has travelled a predetermined distance since the start of the internal combustion engine, ° if the temperature of the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is higher than a predetermined cooling water temperature threshold value, and/or ° if the temperature of the exhaust gases is higher than a lower exhaust gas temperature threshold value, and/or ° if the vehicle has travelled a predetermined distance since the start of the internal combustion engine, • dividing a quantity of fuel which is to be subsequently injected within the engine into a number of post-injections (Poll, Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine during the pre-heating operating state, wherein in the pre-heating operating state a quantity of fuel within the engine in the first post-injection (Poll), and by dividing the quantity of fuel of the second post-injection within the engine a number (n; n > 1) of two post-injections (Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine are performed with reduced quantities of fuel per post-injection (Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine, wherein the number of post-injections (Poll, Pol2a, Pol2b) within the engine is higher than the number of post-injections within the engine in the regeneration operating state or a preparation operating state in which the regeneration operating state is directly switched to in order to prepare for regeneration, and • exiting the pre-heating operating state of the internal combustion engine in order to regenerate the particle filter and switch the internal combustion engine to the preparation operating state or to the regeneration operating state if the temperature of the exhaust gases is above an upper exhaust gas temperature threshold value during a predetermined time interval.