2021 Mercedes S-Class Will Feature AR Enhanced MBUX Infotainment System

ercedes-Benz are known for their love of immersive technology, in the past, the German vehicle manufacturer have experimented with numerous AR and VR experiences. Including an AR owners manual, a VR car buying experience and more recently an AR enhanced vehicle tour and multiple 360-degree videos.

Now, the luxury vehicle company is taking an even bigger leap by applying the same AR technology to the vehicles themselves. In a recent press release, Mercedes revealed a collection of new improvements to the advanced MBUX infotainment system, due to arrive later this year, which will launch parallel to the release of the brand new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The latest S-Class will feature an AR enhanced display, which projects key navigation information directly to the driver's eye line including speed, directions and distance to the desired destination. The added safety benefits of this stops drivers from looking away from the road to check SatNavs and the dashboard, instead street names and arrows indicating which direction to turn will be displayed directly on the front window.

The new model also features onboard eye tracking technology, which powers a 3D instrument cluster. According to Car and Driver, the standard LCD display lies just below an additional LCD aperture grille that moves with the drivers head, creating a stereoscopic effect. Drivers do have the option to deactivate this feature if they find it distracting. Alongside the new AR technology, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, also features the “Hey Mercedes” voice-activated assistant which has advanced gesture controls, and biometric security. The luxury vehicle also has three backseat touch screens which enable passengers to share media and set destinations.

In a recent interview with Car and Driver, when asked whether or not existing Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the current MBUX system could receive an upgrade, a Mercedes spokesperson stated:  

“Certain features will be available for purchase in the Mercedes Me store.”

The AR technology integrated with the luxurious Mercedes-Benz S-Class, creates a futuristic vehicle that any car enthusiast would want to get their hands on. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be available for purchase later this year and will include this new AR-enhanced MBUX Infotainment system.