A method is disclosed for thermal management of an engine comprising a continuously variable transmission. The method includes an engine capability module storing a torque-speed map comprising a first region where the engine inefficiently regenerates an aftertreatment device, a second region where the engine efficiently regenerates the aftertreatment device, and a third region where the engine is not capable of regenerating the aftertreatment device. The method further includes an aftertreatment determination module determining a regeneration index, an operating conditions module determining an engine speed and an engine load, and a speed-load adjustment module adjusting a speed-load target. The method further includes the speed-load adjustment module adjusting the speed-load target to a preferred region along equal power curves of the torque-speed map based on the regeneration index.