Mercedes finally did it, folks. After cramming multiple screens into their dashboards in recent years, they’ve now merged everything into one jumbo-sized display. The GLC with EQ Technology will be the first model to feature an evolution of the so-called Hyperscreen. Stretching from pillar to pillar, it dominates the interior with a massive 39.1-inch (99.3-centimeter) diagonal.
Replacing the defunct EQC, the electric crossover integrates more than 1,000 individual LEDs into the enormous screen. Though it might sound like a gimmick, Mercedes insists the Hyperscreen isn’t distracting. Users can adjust two sections of the “majestic, floating screen” simultaneously using built-in sliders. It’s worth noting the mega display is optional, so the cheaper versions will have more dashboard and less screen.
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Not everything has gone digital. A handful of buttons survive on the center console, steering wheel, and door cards. Still, the interior’s undeniable focal point is the gigantic display, which will likely trickle down to other models. Luxury brands continue to equate big screens with premium appeal, though not everyone agrees.
Fine materials and elegant dashboard design have given way to a screen-centric layout that almost certainly won’t age gracefully. Then again, the GLC isn’t the sort of car most owners plan to keep forever. Either way, it’s a striking example of how Mercedes interiors have evolved since the original GLC debuted just a decade ago, let alone during the glory days of button-filled cabins.
The new CLA also leans heavily on screens inside an upright dash but takes a different approach by using three separate displays. It’s hard to say which layout works better, but it’s clear this is the direction Mercedes is heading. To its credit, the rest of the GLC’s cabin does look suitably upscale to earn the three-pointed star, with metal air vents and speaker grilles paired with plenty of leather and nice stitching.
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Source: Mercedes-Benz
Archrival BMW is also betting big on giant displays to win over the smartphone crowd. The new iX3 debuts with next-gen iDrive, including a 17.9-inch touchscreen and a pillar-to-pillar projection at the base of the windshield. Audi and Porsche are following a similar path, echoing the screen-heavy trend already the norm in Chinese cars.
Presumably, automakers have done their homework by surveying customers on what they want in their vehicles. As hard as it may be to believe, the majority seems to have spoken, and screens are taking over completely.
Circling back to the GLC with EQ Technology, Mercedes is only showing the interior for now. The full debut is scheduled for Sunday, September 7, ahead of next week’s IAA Mobility Show in Munich.