Mercedes Design Chief Acknowledges "Screens Don't Represent Luxury" and Notes Software Isn't Impressive Either | Carscoops

      The company aims to enhance the content for its interior displays, particularly for the Hypescreen interior.

      Gorden Wagener acknowledges that Mercedes’ infotainment software has not been satisfactory.

      The brand is focused on refining craftsmanship and sophistication to elevate luxury.

      The updated S-Class will feature the same Hyperscreen layout as the all-electric EQS.

      In recent years, screens have transformed car interiors more significantly than any other element, as manufacturers strive to integrate more technology and entertainment into their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has fully embraced this trend with its expansive Hyperscreen dashboard, a large, three-display arrangement that converts the cockpit into a digital command center. However, the company's chief design officer does not feel that screens are inherently luxurious.

      During a recent interview with ABC News at the unveiling of the new Mercedes-Benz Places apartment complex in Miami, Gorden Wagener discussed the future of automotive design. Among his notable remarks—such as his prediction that artificial intelligence could render car designers obsolete in ten years—Wagener also recognized some challenges associated with screen-dominated interiors, including Mercedes’ own Hyperscreen.

      The Problem With Screens

      “We don’t currently have the Hyperscreen in all our vehicles, just in a select few,” he commented. “From a hardware perspective, it’s very impressive. However, from a software standpoint, it hasn’t been up to par. When you have a large screen, it’s essential to provide great content. Therefore, we are developing more tailored and entertaining content. Screens themselves are not luxury. You have a better—and larger—TV at home, right? And every vehicle comes equipped with a sizable screen.”

      Luxury Focus

      Wagener emphasizes the need to "create luxury beyond the screen." While few can dispute that Mercedes-Benz produces some of the most opulent interiors in its category, one might wonder how elements like the Hyperscreen will age over time. Typical new cars last around 18 years—though this can vary significantly—and software that appears modern in 2025 may feel outdated by the 2040s.

      Mercedes-Benz introduced the Hyperscreen with the all-electric EQS, and it will soon be included in the updated 2026 S-Class. It remains uncertain whether the software will differ from that of the EQS, but having large screens marred by fingerprints hardly conveys a sense of luxury. Wagener believes that Mercedes needs to enhance “craftsmanship and sophistication” beyond its screens to improve the overall quality of its vehicles.