The entire car industry seems to be adamant about making their vehicles go button-less in the past few years. This trend was kickstarted by Tesla with their revolutionary Model S which replaced the standard screen plus physical buttons configuration with gigantic portrait-style touchscreen infotainment which controls almost all of the car’s functions such radio, climate control, drive mode select and few of other controls. This has attracted a fair share of criticism due to its increased learning curve and difficulty of using it while driving.
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets Massive Touch Screen like Tesla Model S
Mercedes with its new S-Class dubbed as the “best car in the world” has gone and done exactly this, the new system looks gorgeous to the eye and with its brand new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) operating system Mercedes is certainly planning on outclassing the competition with the tech being introduced in the new S-Class.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2021 Features and Technology
The new system of 2021 Mercedes Benz S Class is loaded with new technology and features including touchscreens, augmented reality heads-up display, and improved voice and facial recognition. The plethora of physical switches found in the older version of the S-Class has been removed in this generation. Mercedes said it removed 27 mechanical switches for the 2021 model. Mercedes has made it clear that the guiding principle behind the S-Class was and always will be combining cutting edge technology with world-class luxury
Five Touchscreens
That’s right, the latest generation of the S-Class has five touchscreens which include displays for the rear passengers as well. The S-Class will come equipped as standard with 12.8-inch OLED screens with haptic feedback. The user can control or access features on the displays by touching or swiping the actual screen or by using voice control, natural hand gestures, and now gaze control. However, some functions like lights and windshield wipers are kept in their traditional spots. The climate control panel is permanently at the lower edge of the display.
The system is highly customizable and can be personalized according to the user’s tastes. Preferences can be stored in the vehicle’s personal “Mercedes me” profile. Up to seven different profiles can be created. The appearance of the screens can also be personalized with a choice of four display styles – discreet, sporty, exclusive and classic. There are three user modes, as well, to cover navigation, assistance and service. Screen content can also be shared with other passengers. The rear passengers have three screens available to them as an option.
3D Display
Mercedes has incorporated 3D technology into the vehicle, specifically for the driver display. Mercedes engineers have said that the three-dimensional effect can be seen without wearing 3D glasses. The company was able to achieve this effect by combining a conventional LCD display with a special pixel structure and a controllable LCD aperture grill. A barrier mask is placed a few millimeters in front of the LCD. The result is that the left and right views different pixels of the LCD, creating the illusion of depth. This feature allows the driver to see various information available on the driver’s display in multiple layers which is a true German way that is over-engineered to the max.
Voice Recognition
Mercedes-Benz had showcased its clever voice recognition feature in the first-generation of MBUX. The automaker said it has improved its voice assistant further. For instance, certain actions can be triggered without the “Hey Mercedes” activation keyword to accept a phone call or display the navigation map. “Hey Mercedes” can now explain further in-car questions such as where the first-aid kit is located or how to connect a smartphone via Bluetooth. The voice assistant now understands commands and questions regarding the infotainment system and vehicle operation in 27 languages. It also has the ability to understand indirect commands for example if you say “I’m tired” it will start the vitality program and will advise to stop and take rest at the nearest service station and set the navigation to the same.
Security
Mercedes has really prioritized the security of this vehicle. The good old fashioned PIN entry is still available on the S-Class. The automaker has added a few other authentication methods to ensure a high level of security. The system now combines fingerprint, face and voice recognition. This allows access to individual settings. It’s there to allow the users to safely access functions such as making payments digitally from within the vehicle.
Thoughts on the New S-Class
The S-Class has really taken a huge leap in terms of the tech available and has the potential to become one of the most technologically advanced cars when its launch. This is high praise since the current generation model doesn’t feel a tad bit outdated even after its competitors like the BMW 7 series and especially the Audi A8 are technological powerhouses. Earlier this year we have seen a few leaked snapshots of the exterior of the S-Class from which it is pretty evident that S- Class has adopted the latest Mercedes design language and looks more futuristic than stately. These are the initial impressions and we will have to wait until its officially unveiled for the actual thoughts.
