[Dippy]

There was a time when luxury cars were defined by the quality of materials used and the build quality of the car. The minute fit and finish details of even the physical buttons mattered. Cut to today and everything in a car is all about screens, software and tech. The size of screens is also just getting bigger by the day. But, Mercedes-Benz has admitted that screens are not a luxury.

In a recent interview with ABC News, Gorden Wagener, the Chief Design officer at the three-pointed star said that big screens are no longer a luxury or novelty as many cars have them. He also added that while it's been good from the hardware side of things, it hasn’t been good when it comes to software.

“We don't have the hyperscreen in all the cars right now, just in a few. From the hardware side, it's very good. 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.” He further went on to add, “ Screens are not luxury. 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. That's why I talk about craftsmanship and sophistication. There's so much emphasis on making [Mercedes] vehicles better.”

When asked about the role of AI in car design he said, “ We work with AI now. You get 99% of crap with AI and sheer quantity. That's the biggest problem -- sorting out the good from the bad. But you get 1% good stuff and we keep learning. It's getting better every day.

AI will drastically change the way we design. I think in 10 years maybe most of the design will be done by AI and it will make designers obsolete. My successor will be a machine and will be much cheaper than my salary.”

Back in the day, Gorden Wagener had spoken big about the 55-inch hyperscreen when it debuted in cars like the EQS.

Screens are not going anywhere though. The 2026 Mercedes S-Class facelift is expected to come with a hyperscreen similar to that on the EQS models.

Source: ABC News

Link to Team BHP news

[richie4u]

That's one statement which I couldn't agree more with! In the yesteryears, having a touchscreen or even one of those pop out screens from a 2-din system meant your car was one among those luxury cars-no matter what brand it was. Today with no dearth of screens around us-mobile phones, tabs, humongous TV's, LED displays all around- having those gawdy 15-16 inch screens or panoramic screen setup on the current gen of cars is irritating to say the least.

Let alone eye fatigue from juggling with traffic, the brightness from these screens tend to worsen it even further. I tend to pick car variants with the smallest screen possible for the same reason. To add to the misery- all subsidiary functions of the vehicle like air-conditioning control, tail gate opening are now controlled via these screens so in a situation where your screen goes kaput-a hefty hole in your pocket is ensured as most of the brands don't consider touchscreens for warranty.

[Sensible_Speed]

It is time to get worried when a major manufacturer uses 'content' and 'entertaining' in the same sentence when talking about a screen in a car. What has happened to this world. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Customers need to speak up against this stupid nonsense instead of lapping it up. These giant screens and a more computerised car translates to subscription models for usable features. This is extremely dangerous to the market in the long run.

Imagine being able to use the car's full power only if you pay a monthly fee. Even worse, imagine someone accessing your car remotely through whatever half-assed system they use to control the subscription system, because cyber-security is the least of a car manufacturer's concern. Worst of all is the redefinition of ownership of your product. Your bundle of rights with regard to your property is being infringed. This has already caused havoc in the agricultural sector with John Deere's deceit. BMW has also started making it harder for third-party mechanics to do simple tasks such as oil changes by locking the reset away through software.

When you see an automotive company talk about connected tech, run. Their intent is one hundred percent malicious. As simple as that.

[msdivy]

Benz have found a solution for drivers fixated on the large screens in their cars. They have implemented active brake assist. So if the drivers are busy staring at the screen and forget to spot an obstacle, the car will violently brake itself. The silver lining? This feature isn’t locked behind their subscription plan.

[kedar3223]

Couldn't agree more to this. Beyond a music system, vehicle info and a navigation, everything else on digital screen is done for the sake of doing it. A simple and intuitive screen that only reveals itself when needed is the way to do it. The dash and the cluster are the focal design elements of the car, why would anyone want it to be covered in drab black screen. Heck, even the steering wheel is heading towards a similar fate.

At the lower end of the scale, why cant manufacturers reduce the electronic cost and divert it towards making things like a good headlight, rear defogger wiper standard.

[swift.surya]

I just want a screen that can play music and display maps. I don't want such a screen to take up the entirety of my dashboard. What was wrong with physical buttons? Technology is prone to go wrong. A screen will go bad after a few years time. Imagine freezing to death in your car while going to work just because the touchscreen has frozen itself to death?

[xoom]

It is getting increasingly hard for luxury car makers to build something that is truly aspirational. Cars of all segments now get big screens, connectivity, 360 camera, ADAS and the like. Even safety features are a given in cars across segments. In some cases, luxury cars end up not offering features like ventilated seats which are available in much inexpensive cars.

Using tech/software driven features at times ends up as an overkill - like newer BMWs offering five different ways to do something as simple as increasing the volume - knob, screen, steering control, voice and gesture. Not sure who is asking for such capabilities, and how many of us actually use it beyond showing off like a parlour trick.

Shift to EV is further aggravating this problem where the differentiation based on “joy of driving” is also going away - there isn’t much to brag about driving characteristics of a BMW EV compared to say a BE6E (at least for now).

Interesting time indeed for the industry to innovate and bring capabilities that make a real difference beyond the label value.

[Arjun Bharadwaj]

So on one hand MB says that large displays are not a stand out feature and on the other says it will anyway provide large displays with better “content”.

Where is the standout feel then if they provide the same display and content which can also be accessed from a tab or mobile mounted on the dash? What is the differentiator for MB?

Seems like one of the ways to have a pure and non distracted driving experiences is to buy lower end models of cars. If one doesn’t like to drive, anyhow the fully self drive cars are coming in the future.

[bamaboy]

I've had the opportunity to own Mercedes models spanning four decades, from the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. We can see how ergonomics, controls, and electronics have evolved. What was once a driver centric, mechanical approach to usability has now shifted toward excessive screen dependency, often at the cost of practicality and ease of use.

Mercedes from the 80s and 90s were built to last, relying on vacuum actuated controls, mechanical linkages, and minimal electronics. Electrical systems were relay controlled with simple fuse circuits, making them simple to diagnose and repair. The AC system used vacuum operated flaps, which meant fewer failures compared to the modern stepper motor based flaps. Everything had a physical button, knob, or switch ensuring that controls were within reach without distracting the driver. Cars like the W124, W201, and W126 were designed for longevity with overengineered components that could outlast multiple generations.

The 2000s saw the transition to Canbus controlled electronics, allowing modular system communication across the vehicle. The introduction of SAM modules reduced reliance on traditional relays and improved diagnostics. Despite these advancements ergonomics remained intact, with physical buttons for most functions. My X164 GL350 is a perfect example of this balance. Climate controls are straightforward with dedicated buttons in the centre console even for adjusting AC for rear passengers. Seat adjustments, lighting controls and even air suspension settings are all accessed via physical switches, providing a convenient approach.

With the 2010s came the widespread adoption of digital interfaces. The COMAND system became a central hub for vehicle functions, integrating features into a single screen. However, physical buttons were still present for essential functions like climate control, media, dynamic drive modes, and functions like rear sunshade adjustment. The NTG 4.5/5.0 systems though less intuitive, atleast retained basic controls for quick access. In my W205 C-Class, the infotainment was controlled through a rotary COMAND dial and touchpad, which is not the most user-friendly, still allowed for relatively easy operation for basic media shortcuts.

Post-2020, MBUX system has taken the touchscreen approach to an extreme, completely eliminating physical buttons in favor of digital interfaces. Introduction of capacitive buttons even for the steering wheel is a disaster! This has significantly impacted usability. Essential functions like lumbar support and seat massaging are buried under multiple menu layers, requiring several taps to access. The problem is even worse in my EQS580, where adjusting screen brightness involves navigating through multiple settings for the main display, passenger screen, instrument cluster, ambient lighting, and HUD, instead of simply using a dedicated physical knob as in previous models.







The odometer’s persistent blue backlighting is a constant source of eye fatigue, and while OLED screens are sharp, high resolution and bright, they introduce unnecessary distractions and cause fatigue during night journey.

The EQS also highlights the absurdity of excessive screen usage. It has six screens, most of which serve no real purpose. The front passenger display is redundant, as it is rarely used in real world conditions. The rear-center tablet is unnecessary given that there are already two dedicated rear seat screens. Worse still, the rear entertainment system lacks built-in streaming apps like Netflix, Youtube or Prime Video, despite BMW offering them in the i7’s cinematic display. Instead, Mercedes provides only an HDMI port inside a cubby beneath the rear AC controls. To stream content, you need to connect a third-party device like an Amazon Fire Stick, which then requires a separate remote to operate. An inconvenience that defeats the purpose of built-in entertainment.

Another example of poor usability in the EQS is the rear seat adjustment process. In previous and current S class, adjusting the front passenger seat from the rear was as simple as using a dedicated switch. In the EQS, this function has been buried in a touchscreen menu, requiring multiple steps to complete a basic task. This shift toward touchscreen dependency isn’t just an inconvenience, it actively degrades the user experience.

Luxury carmakers push for a fully digital cockpit has come at the expense of ergonomics and usability. Physical buttons were far superior, providing tactile feedback and allowing drivers to make adjustments without taking their eyes off the road. MBUX or even the iDrive menu-heavy system creates unnecessary distractions, making even the most basic functions tedious. Screen overload in new cars is more of a gimmick than a functional improvement, with multiple redundant displays adding complexity rather than convenience.

Technology should enhance the driving experience, not hinder it. In their attempt to appear cutting-edge, luxury brands are sacrificing the user-friendly nature. The solution isn’t to eliminate technology but to strike a balance bringing back essential physical controls while keeping screens for secondary functions just like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

[DicKy]

Little confusing here.

Is the Merc guy admitting that screens are no longer luxury (and they probably overdone it) and they are going to do something else to bring back the luxury factor? Minimise screens and bring back quality switchgear?

Or is it they have put these screens everywhere, but don't have enough stuff to put in it. So they are working on putting even more stuff in the screens, instead of cutting down screens?

Merc is really going overboard with the touch thingy. In addition to the already over the board central screen, they have made steering mounted controls and doorpad buttons touch based.