2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior Debuts Superscreen and AI-Powered Upgrades

Mercedes-Benz will introduce MBUX 3 and a part of MB.OS before the end of the year.

Mercedes-Benz today revealed our first official look at the interior of the 2024 E-Class. The showcase was part of a major presentation event detailing the brand’s next steps in technology and infotainment—and the new 214-series E-Class will offer a first taste of many of these features when it arrives later this year.

From a purely design perspective, the 2024 E-Class cabin is more evolution than revolution. A semi-floating dashboard design emphasizes a wraparound look. The face of the dashboard is a merger of the existing Merc approaches, with a stand-up screen behind the dashboard and a two-panel display integrated into the glass covering the rest of the surface. Mercedes calls this Superscreen—get it? Not quite Hyperscreen. Thin air vents wrap around the top of the screens, and a thin row of touch-capacitive buttons sit just below. The center console has a large cover to keep the look all clean, hiding away the wireless charge pad and cupholders. Mercedes’ advanced LED ambient lighting is of course all over the cabin, in the doors, along the vents, and wrapping right around the base of the windshield. So far, so Merc.

The leaps and bounds happen under the skin. Mercedes has centralized the processing with one primary computer, instead of the multiple processor approach of previous models. The German company says this improves software performance, specifically making for much quicker responses and a smoother user experience. An available Entertainment package adds a 5G connection and additional connected services.

See that little bump in the center of the dashboard top? That’s a selfie camera, capable of snapping stills or capturing video as the driver sees fit. When the E-Class is stationary, the camera can also be used for video conferences.

Yes, video conferences. The E-Class will arrive packing the latest evolution of MBUX, which sees a dramatic redesign with a more tile-focused layout and the ability to add third-party apps. From launch, it will include popular apps and games like TikTok, Webex, Zoom, and even Angry Birds. Users will also have access to the Vivaldi browser, as well as Zync, a service that incorporates over 30 streaming services. An available Burmester 4D surround sound system can work in concert with the ambient lighting for a new visualization program, which syncs the in-cabin lighting with media. Calm music? Soft lighting with gentle transitions. Playing a banger? Rapid light changes.

Does that all sound a little distracting in a car? It sure does—and Mercedes agrees. To that end, the far-side screen is only a touchscreen if seat sensors determine there is a passenger. Riding solo? That’s just a screensaver.

Also helping in the fight against distracted driving is an evolution of MB’s virtual assistant. Folks no longer need to wake the system up with “Hey Mercedes,” instead simply issuing commands when a red microphone display is present in the display. Mercedes touts a more robust system, which is capable of chaining multiple requests together as one. What’s more, the assistant is now AI-powered, which allows for it to “learn” more common requests, and create routines based on them. Mercedes used one example, in which the seat heating is active and the ambient lightning is orange, whenever the interior temperature drops below 12 degrees Celsius. Owners would be able to create their own routines as well, or pick from a range of pre-built ones.

Modern Mercs have an increased focus on wellness, with rejuvenated programs that optimize the infotainment, ambient lighting, and climate settings. The W214 E-Class will add a motion sickness prevention program to its Energizing Comfort suite, and there’s a plan for a stress-reducing breathing exercise program as well. The cabin air vents can swivel and adjust automatically via Thermotronic Digital Vent Control, but Mercedes will (thankfully) still allow full manual adjustment as passengers see fit.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class will debut soon, with sales beginning in North America before the end of the year. It will launch in sedan form, with a wagon to follow soon after—though how many long-roof models North America will get remains unknown. The coupe and convertible are gone for now. Expect more details on the E-Class over the coming months.

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