In the future, the dash-spanning display is likely to spread to other Benz cars.
The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), infotainment package was unveiled at CES 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada. The company’s latest version of the technology is now available, called Hyperscreen. The MBUX Hyperscreen will make its debut in the 2022flagship-EV. It makes use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to better integrate into users’ lives and commutes.
These features aren’t as obvious to casual observers as Hyperscreen’s size and design. The infotainment package covers almost the entire width the EQS sedan’s cabin. It includes three separate OLED screens, one for the front passenger and one for the rear. This allows for easier operation than the current MBUX systems. This is a great addition to the EQS electric car, and gives tech-junkies something to brag about.
The Hyperscreen’s curved glass measures more than 56 inches across from edge to edge. It could be the largest piece of silicate in automotive today, surpassing the Escalade’s 38 inch display. The Mercedes-Benz Hyperscreen, just like the Caddy is composed of three distinct points. They are all enclosed under one glass pane.
The driver is presented with a complete set of digital gauges, similar to the 2021 S Class sedan but with distinct EV functions. These include a monitor for brake regeneration, charge status, and driving dynamics. The center infotainment screen is located just below the instrument cluster. It defaults to a large navigation map, minimalist phone and audio controls. A short, large screen is located on the dashboard in front of the passenger. It displays either entertainment goodies when the seat has been occupied, or a stylized galaxy of three-pointed star stars when it’s only the driver.
A circular HVAC vent appears to be floating above the glass on either side of it. According to the company, the two air outlets link the analog and digital worlds. You can say whatever you like. The vents’ unique location and function are still very appealing. Kudos to the interior design team for putting them there. The screen’s single frame plastic surround features three thin layers of silver shadow coating to give it a luxurious look and feel. The glass’s lower edge will give off a floating look thanks to ambient lighting.
The glass pane is slightly curved and molded at temperatures above 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures distortion-free clarity, surprising strength, and a smooth surface. Gorilla Glass is heated to 750 degrees. The panel was also tested for safety in extreme situations, such as a car accident. The glass has five mounting points and predetermined breaking points.
The Hyperscreen can store multiple passenger and driver profiles and uses artificial intelligence to provide vehicle comfort and operation suggestions. The Mercedes-Benz EQS has a suspension that lifts the car slightly higher when the vehicle is approaching a steep driveway. The Hyperscreen can learn from the driver if they engage the suspension lift in certain places and will suggest an action beforehand, making it easier for them.
Another example is an action that’s tied to a specific time or location. The EQS can make a suggestion to the driver by showing a business card or a photograph of the person to whom they would like to speak. Each Hyperscreen action is tied to a personal profile. If someone is driving the vehicle, it won’t make such suggestions.
The basic system is intuitive even without the AI. The default Hyperscreen center display, also known as the “zero-layer features map, audio and phone controls – Mercedes-Benz research found that these were the most commonly used functions in previous MBUX iterations. It will be easy to call up these features, as they are accessible from the zero-layer. You can also use the voice command “Hey Mercedes” to command any Hyperscreen feature.
We are naturally a little hesitant when we see an infotainment system that doesn’t have any buttons. We don’t know the interior design of the EQS, but it is possible it won’t have old-fashioned inputs like a volume knob and physical climate controls. We will wait to see what the rest of the EQS interior looks like, but it is possible that Mercedes won’t have real dials or toggles. However, it should make digital versions easy to use.
The MBUX hyperscreen will be available on the EQS family of EVs, and is likely to be available for both the sedan as well as the SUV versions. Mercedes has not yet committed to a specific time for these vehicles but we expect the S Class-sized electric sedan to debut this summer and the SUV to follow in autumn or winter.
The Hyperscreen could also be seen in other Mercedes models, possibly as an optional second-year addition to the S-Class sedan that already features MBUX artificial intelligence. It is beautiful and intuitive, but Mercedes-Benz wouldn’t limit the Hyperscreen to one model family.