  For separable $C^*$-algebras $A$ and $B$, we define a topology on the set
$[[A, B]]$ consisting of homotopy classes of asymptotic morphisms from $A$ to
$B$. This gives an enrichment of the Connes--Higson asymptotic category over
topological spaces. We show that the Hausdorffization of this category is
equivalent to the shape category of Dadarlat. As an application, we obtain a
topology on the $E$-theory group $E(A, B)$ with properties analogous to those
of the topology on $KK(A, B)$. The Hausdorffized $E$-theory group $EL(A, B) =
E(A, B) / \overline{\{0\}}$ is also introduced and studied. We obtain a
continuity result for the functor $EL(\,\cdot\,,B)$, which implies a new
continuity result for the functor $KL(\,\cdot\,,B)$.
