All Mercedes Models Will Have Innovative MBUX Infotainment System

Feb. 09, 2018 1:10 PM ET by Martin Bigg Interior / 31 Comments

Mercedes expects the MBUX infotainment system from the A-Class to be available in every model.

Recently revealed last week, the all-new Mercedes A-Class is finally here, and for the first time in the model's history will be sold in the US – albeit as a sedan, rather than the traditional hatchback which will be sold in Europe and Canada. Despite technically being the entry-level model in the Mercedes-Benz, the new A-Class aims to attract a younger, more premium market, featuring hi-tech driver assists and safety systems from the S-Class, and a significantly more luxurious interior than the outgoing model.

New to the A-Class is its innovative MBUX infotainment system to replace the automaker's outdated COMAND system, which we believe to be one of the best we've ever tested. It won't be exclusive to the A-Class for long, however. During the compact car's premiere, Ola Kaellenius, head of research and car development at Mercedes-Benz, confirmed to CarAdvice that the MBUX will "quickly proliferate" throughout Mercedes' model range and expects it to be offered in every model "within a couple of years." Georges Massing, head of user interaction, also confirmed that the MBUX system's hardware and processors can be installed into existing models, so there's no need for a generational change.

Mercedes-Benz

In the new A-Class, MBUX will be available with either two 7.0-inch screens, two 10.25-inch screens, or a mixture of the two display sizes. One screen sits ahead of the driver, while the other is located in the center of the dashboard. Both are powered by a GPU supplied by Nvidia, a company best known for producing GPUs for gaming PCs. The center screen is operated with an intuitive touchpad, or can be operated by buttons on the steering wheel's right spoke, while the screen ahead of the driver is controlled using the steering wheel's left spoke.

Another highlight of the MBUX system is its natural language voice recognition system that uses an intelligent AI system. After saying the phrase 'Hey Mercedes,' virtually every car and infotainment function can be controlled by voice. The language assistant can identify indirect speech, allowing you to turn up the temperature of the climate control by simply saying "I am cold" instead of a clear command like "temperature to 24 degrees," for example.

Mercedes-Benz

All Mercedes Models Will Have Innovative MBUX Infotainment System

Join The Discussion

Gallery