Despite its commitment to incorporating increasingly large screens into its vehicles, Mercedes-Benz acknowledges that screens alone are not enough to create a truly luxurious interior.
Beyond the Screen: Craftsmanship and Sophistication
Mercedes-Benz chief design officer Gorden Wagener said that large infotainment touchscreens and digital instrument clusters become increasingly common, other elements are becoming key to differentiating a luxury vehicle. "Screens are not luxury," Wagener said. "You have a better – and bigger – TV at home, right? And every car has a big screen. So we have to create luxury beyond the screen." Wagener emphasized craftsmanship and sophistication as essential elements of Mercedes-Benz interiors.
Hyperscreen: Hardware vs. Software
Mercedes-Benz currently offers a 56-inch 'Hyperscreen' in electric models like the EQS and EQS SUV. The Hyperscreen consists of a single panel incorporating a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch infotainment screen, and a 12.3-inch passenger screen. Wagener acknowledged the hardware is strong but admitted the software needs improvement.
"From the hardware side it’s very good," he said. "From the software side it hasn’t been that good. Because when you have a big screen, you want to have great content on it. So we’re working on content that is more specific and more entertaining."
Expanding Content and Entertainment
Mercedes-Benz is working to improve the Hyperscreen's functionality with expanded content. Recently, the automaker announced models running its latest MBUX system would feature Sony's RIDEVU application, providing access to IMAX films via the vehicle’s infotainment screens.
This feature is currently planned for rollout in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Japan, with no word yet on Australian availability.
