In-Car Tech

Here's everything you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz Hyperscreen

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Jan 8, 2021, 2:39 pm

The MBUX Hyperscreen is a leap forward in infotainment and driver's information display design for the company's next-gen electric automobiles.

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has been lauded for the two screens, one housing approach to infotainment and driver's information in their latest vehicles. Then along came Cadillac's immense 37-inch three-screen approach to data and entertainment in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Mercedes is upping the game with its new MBUX Hyperscreen, which will debut in the EQS all-electric sedan.

The MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) was unveiled inn the 2018 A-Class and there are now more than 1.8 million Mercedes passenger cars with the equipment on the road worldwide. A second generation of the system debuted a few months ago alongside the new S-Class sedan. It's set to take another leap forward when the EQS makes the Hyperscreen available to buyers.

Here's what we know.

The screen is huge.

You can tell by the images of it that the screen is big. How big is it? The large, curved screen panel extends almost the entire width of the interior, from one A-pillar to the other. It measures over 56 inches wide and has 377 square inches of surface area. There is no vehicle on the market today with a similarly sized screen.

The screen incorporates digital and analog parts. There is a large digital surface that has traditional air vents integrated into the face. The Hyperscreen is surrounded by a continuous plastic front frame. The visible part of this frame is painted in a Silver Shadow color that has been applied in a three-coating process.

Mercedes-Benz MBUX OLED Hyperscreen display illuminated thickness lighting LED

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The large glass cover display of the Hyperscreen is curved in the molding process at a temperature of approximately 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit. The high-heat bending allows for a distortion-free view of the display unit across the entire width of the vehicle.

Ambient light has been installed on the lower part of the screen to give it the appearance of floating on the dashboard.

Mercedes has engineered the screen to have two coatings of the cover plate to reduce reflections and make cleaning easier. The screen is made a scratch-resistant aluminum silicate.

What happens to the screen in the event of an accident? Safety measures have been put in place as part of the engineering process. There are predetermined braking points alongside the side outlet openings as well as five holders that can "yield in a targeted manner in a crash thanks to their honeycomb structure" according to the automaker.

It's the brain and nervous system of the EQS.

In a recent statement, Sajjad Khan, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG and CTO said, "The MBUX Hyperscreen is both the brain and nervous system of the car." He described it further, saying, "The MBUX Hyperscreen continually gets to know the customer better and delivers a tailored, personalized infotainment and operating offerings without the occupant needing to click or scroll anywhere."

Two parts of the display feature OLED technology.

MBUX Hyperscreen width EQS

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

OLED technology is used on the central and front passenger displays of the Hyperscreen. The technology allows for images that are self-luminous while unused space appears deep black. Active OLED pixels radiate with a high color brilliance, resulting in high contrast values.

All of the graphics on the Hyperscreen are styled in a new blue/orange color scheme.

It doesn't just look high tech. It is.

The Hyperscreen has a powerful computer system running it consisting of 8 CPU cores and 24 gigabytes of RAM. It has a 46.4 GB per second RAM memory bandwidth.

There are a total of 12 actuators beneath the touchscreen that deliver haptic feedback during operation. If the finger touches certain points there, they trigger a tangible vibration in the cover plate that a person can sense to know that their touch command has been received by the system.

The Hyperscreen is connected to a multifunction camera and a light sensor, which adapts the brightness of the screen to ambient conditions.

The MBUX system can hold the information for up to seven profiles and can be individualize for multiple front passengers.

Front passengers get their own screen and operating area.

As part of the design, front passengers have their own display and operating area. Entertainment functions of the passenger display area are only available in countries where it is allowed. If the passenger seat is not occupied, the screen becomes a "digital decorative part" where animated stars are displayed.

Crisp, clean graphics help make the screen easy to operate.

MBUX Hyperscreen navigation design look size

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The MBUX Hyperscreen features most of the functions you'd find on a traditional center console in a fully digital format. Through research, Mercedes learned that most infotainment use cases fall into the Navigation, Radio/Media and Phone categories. Because of this, they put the navigation application at the center of the screen.

Many suggestions for the use of infotainment technology can be made by the artificial intelligence within the MBUX system, which monitors user behavior and analyzes it for patterns. For example, the system can issue a birthday reminder or suggest items from a to-do list.

Even further, if you always call one particular person on Thursdays on your way home from work, a business card may appear on the screen with their contact information instead of you having to find their contact info by scrolling through your phone, utilizing a voice command, or clicking through several layers of the screen's menus. Mercedes emphasize that these prompts can be dismissed with one button touch.

Zero-layer living is designed to make the Hyperscreen easier to live with.

MBUX Hyperscreen climate controls audio radio design

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

With the Hyperscreen's zero-layer feature, users do not have to scroll through sub-menus or give voice commands to complete popular tasks. Mercedes has placed the most important applications in a "situational and contextual way" at the top of the driver's field of vision.

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EV Charging

Mercedes-Benz EQS owners to get free charging

EQS buyers will have access to two years of free charging.

Electrify America

The Mercedes-Benz EQSis set to start hitting dealers' lots in just a few months, and the automaker is working drum up excitement for the all-new EV. Today, Electrify America announced that it will partner with Mercedes to offer charging services to buyers of the upcoming vehicle.

The agreement means that EQS owners will have two years of free charging, which includes 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America locations. The services go a step further, however, and will include the ability to plug and charge. This means that EQS owners who have activated their Mercedes me Charge accounts can start a free charging session just by plugging the vehicle into the charger. Electrify America says that no authentication or initiation steps will be required.


2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS The EQS is due to hit the market in late 2021.Mercedes-Benz


The agreement between Mercedes-Benz and Electrify America will also extend some services to future EQ battery-electric vehicles, as well as future Mercedes plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company notes that there may be costs to charge for those vehicles, but drivers will still be able to use the Mercedes me app to initiate sessions.

As more automakers jump in the EV game, free charging partnerships are becoming a bigger deal. Just last month, Hyundai announced that buyers of its Ioniq 5 EV will receive two years of free charging from Electrify America, and Ford offered free charging to its Mustang Mach-E customers, also through Electrify America, though The Blue Oval's offer only extended to 250 kilowatt-hours.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS The partnership with Electrify America will provide access to chargers across the country.Mercedes-Benz


The EQS itself is Mercedes' first vehicle in what will become an electric sub-brand for the automaker. It will hit the market as a 2022 model late in 2021, and will be offered in two models. The entry level machine features 329 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the up-level EQS 580 4Matic will see 516 horsepower and 611 pound-feet of torque. Beyond its electric powertrain, the EQS will offer several advanced tech features, including a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 17.7-inch touchscreen. Even the passenger gets a display in the new car, as a second 12.3-inch screen will be positioned on the right portion of the dash.

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One-Day Drive

First Drive Review: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder goes rugged, acts refined

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder arrives on dealer lots this summer.

Photo courtesy of Nissan North America

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder doesn't have to be capable of rock crawling or deep water fording. What it has to do is service the needs of families in their daily life and give them the opportunity to competently go off-roading on rocky trails should they desire. The new, fifth-generation models does just that and adds in enough nifty features to make it among the most compelling choices for three-row SUV buyers.

The 2022 Pathfinder is thoroughly modern though not the boxy off-roader it once was. The SUV's styling harkens back to that time with a tilted, darkened C-pillar and a return to a more muscular body style. That styling makes straightforward visibility good but for shorter drivers seeing what is immediately in front of the grille is a challenge that necessitates using surround view camera technology (available only in upper trim levels) when navigating challenging terrain.

2022 Nissan Pathfinder The Pathfinder can easily handle the roads less traveled.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America

Under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 that offers up 291 horsepower and torque - plenty to do the job without complaint. The SUV's nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the continuously variable transmission (CVT) from the previous generation and delivers smooth shifts. Though low-end torque isn't as robust as I like it to be, once up over 35 mph, the Pathfinder's powertrain delivers smooth, powerful sailing.

The redesigned architecture and components underpinning the Pathfinder make it stable on the road and don't allow it to wallow on winding roads. Even off-road, the suspension provides the right blend of stability while the drive dynamics allowing the driver to feel engaged with their surroundings whether on freshly paved roads, city streets, or muddy trails.

Nissan has given the Pathfinder a 6,000-pound towing capacity and even when maxed out the engine's functionality is strong as ever. The transmission can get held up in a gear mid-range when performing this function, however, with 5,000-6,000 rpms registering on the tachometer but a quick release of the gas pedal recalibrates the offering bringing it down to a more traditional 2,000 rpm range.

The eight-seater Pathfinder clearly has the Toyota Highlander in its sights, with good reason. It's the top-selling three-row SUV in the country. Nissan boasts that three adults can fit across the rear bench seat of the Pathfinder and, as long as they're average size or smaller, the marketing talking point holds up. There is gobs more room back there than there is in the Highlander.

2022 Nissan Pathfinder Nissan has given the Pathfinder ample cargo space.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America

Getting in and out of the third row is easy thanks to one-touch buttons on the outboard side of the second-row chairs that move the SUV's captain's seats forward creating enough room to get through to the back. Smartly, Nissan's engineers have put duplicates of these buttons on the back side of the same seats allowing third-row passengers to simply press the button to move the seat up.

The third row can also be accessed via a split between the captain's chairs as well, a space traditionally occupied by a center stowage bin/cup holders/arm rest. Owners can quickly remove the center console by opening a panel on the front and pulling the release mechanism. The one-handed operation takes seconds and the console can be easily stored in the under-floor trunk space behind the third row seat for ease.

Speaking of cargo space... The Pathfinder is one of the most spacious midsize SUVs on the market today for both passengers and cargo. There is a substantial amount of room behind the third-row seat and the under-floor storage area is nearly twice the size of the one in the Highlander. Plus, it has a feature that allows the area cover to be automatically propped up when pushed up by a user. This is especially help when carrying groceries or plants home and keeps them from being crushed.

The first- and second-row seats are suitably comfortable, even for extended periods of time and standard trig-zone climate control makes finding the right in-cabin mix easy. Bottle holders in the pockets of the front doors are exceptionally large, fitting even bulky water bottles.

2022 Nissan Pathfinder The Pathfinder's front row seats are comfortable.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America

In front of the driver is a standard tachometer, speedometer, and 7.0-inch driver information display. Buyers can upgrade to a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and head-up display but they're not reason enough to upgrade to the top-tier Pathfinder Platinum on their own.

Nissan packs the new Pathfinder with a host of desirable features that make living with the Pathfinder easier including one-touch auto up/down windows, a wireless phone charger, grocery hooks in the rear cargo area, USB ports in all three rows, second-row sunshades, rear door keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a motion-activated lift gate.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is priced to start at $33,410 for the two-wheel drive S base model and $35,310 for the four-wheel drive S base model. The model tops out around $50,000 with destination and delivery included, which seems fair when comparing the Pathfinder to other vehicles in the market.

2022 Nissan Pathfinder The Pathfinder can tow up to 6,000 pounds.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America

If you're thinking of purchasing a Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, or Highlander, do yourself a favor and schedule a test drive of the new Pathfinder when it arrives at a dealer lot near you. You may just be surprised how seamlessly it fits into your daily life compared to the competition.

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