- Gorden Wagener admits that Mercedes’ infotainment software hasn’t been good.
- The brand wants to work on craftsmanship and sophistication to increase luxury.
- The facelifted S-Class will get the same Hyperscreen array as the all-electric EQS.
Screens have reshaped car interiors more than anything else in recent years, as automakers race to pack more technology and entertainment into their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz fully embraced this trend, rolling out its massive Hyperscreen dashboard—a sprawling, three-display setup that turned the cockpit into a digital command center. But despite leading the charge, the company’s chief design officer doesn’t believe screens are inherently luxurious.
Read: Mercedes Design Boss Says AI Will Make Designers Obsolete In 10 Years
Speaking recently with ABC News at an event for the new Mercedes-Benz Places apartment complex in Miami, Gorden Wagener shared his thoughts on the future of automotive design. Among his more attention-grabbing statements—like predicting that artificial intelligence could replace car designers within a decade—Wagener also acknowledged some of the issues with screen-heavy interiors, including Mercedes’ own Hyperscreen.
The Problem With Screens
“We don’t have the hyperscreen in all the cars right now, just in a few,” he said. “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. Screens are not luxury. You have a better — and bigger — TV at home, right? And every car has a big screen.”
Luxury Focus
According to Wagener, it’s important to “create luxury beyond the screen.” Few would deny that Mercedes-Benz currently crafts some of the most luxurious interiors in its segment, but one could question how things like the Hyperscreen will age over time. Typical new cars have a lifespan of around 18 years – although this can vary wildly – and software that feels modern in 2025, may feel ancient in the 2040s.
Mercedes-Benz debuted the Hyperscreen with the all-electric EQS, but it will soon be added to the facelifted 2026 S-Class. It’s unclear if the software will be any different from what’s found in the EQS, but having massive displays with fingerprints all over them doesn’t exactly scream luxury. According to Wagener, Mercedes needs to improve “craftsmanship and sophistication” beyond its screens to make the brand’s vehicles better.
