The Mercedes luxury vision is increasingly being seen through the prism of values and advantages that go beyond physical sensations. They are looking for precious assets such as time and want to be accountable for their decisions. Giving it fresh meaning for the electric and digital era – doing more with less – is part of this.

The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX is the most current example of this. The most fuel-efficient Mercedes ever produced serves as a template for electric vehicle efficiency in the future, as well as a lesson in a fundamentally new approach to UI/UX powered by software and artificial intelligence.

Mercedes-Benz is the world’s first car manufacturer to acquire the world’s first globally valid system certification for conditionally autonomous driving with DRIVE PILOT (SAE-Level 3).

The epitome of efficiency: Vision EQXX

The journey to electric transportation has already begun. Mercedes-Benz has already had a lot of life-changing events and achieved a lot of milestones. The VISION EQXX research prototype is a vehicle built expressly for this voyage of transformation.

It not only shows the promise of electric transportation in the digital and ecological era, but it also reinterprets the fundamental core of the road trip. It gives you the freedom of the wide road and fulfills your need to explore in a natural manner.

The VISION EQXX is a roadmap for the future of efficiency, with a real-world electric range of more than 620 miles (1,000 km) on a single charge and energy usage of less than 10 kWh/100 km.

The VISION EQXX is a lesson in a fundamentally new software-driven approach to the UI/UX, beyond the outstanding accomplishments of its highly sophisticated powertrain, the record braking drag coefficient of 0.17, and lightweight bionic design. The UI aesthetics are elevated to a whole new degree of digital splendor thanks to a gaming engine.

The user interface demonstrates how real-time graphics opens up totally new digital possibilities by responding quickly to the driver’s wants and integrating the outside world inside the car. The automobile and the driver form a real partnership as a result of this human-machine merger.

The intuitive interaction enabled by the extremely efficient but aesthetically appealing one-piece display further facilitates this more seamless connection. Meanwhile, a more characterful, emotive voice for “Hey Mercedes” has been created using machine learning, bringing the communication between driver and automobile to a whole new and more natural level.

The innovative materials in the Vison EQXX to be used in production models

The digital and sustainable luxury technologies that emerged from the technology initiative that developed the VISION EQXX serve as a roadmap for future Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is putting the first sustainable materials from the research vehicle into serial production only a few months after the global debut of the VISION EQXX.

Both the EQS and the EQE will be supplied with cable ducting made of UBQ, a bioplastic generated from mixed household waste that is difficult to recycle and often ends up in landfills, in experimental programs.

The VISION EQXX provides a blueprint for achieving real luxury with sustainable resources. Alternatives to animal leather made from cactus and the root-like structure of mushrooms are among the others.

With recycled and low-CO2 materials in structural components, as well as a bionic-engineering approach that minimizes weight and conserves resources, the VISION EQXX delivers tangible luxury that is not part of the consumer interface.

Mercedes-Benz will demonstrate the real-world capabilities of this revolutionary car with a long-distance trip on open roads at the end of April 2022.

Leading the way in self-driving cars: the ultimate Mercedes luxury element

Mercedes-Benz has consistently established benchmarks in vehicle safety with new revolutionary technology since the birth of the car in 1886. Mercedes-Benz prides itself on its commitment to safety. For years, the business has included advanced driver assistance systems (SAE Level 2) in its automobiles.

They may make life much simpler in a variety of scenarios by assisting with speed and distance management, steering, and lane changes, among other things. Mercedes-Benz was the first automaker in the world to get globally recognized system clearance for conditionally autonomous driving in December 2021. (SAE Level 3).

Furthermore, Mercedes is taking parking to the next level with the pre-installation of INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, which will allow highly automatic parking (Automated Valet Parking; SAE Level 4).

Level 2 autonomous cars systems

The automaker’s “Intelligent Drive” package includes a variety of driver aid features for partly automated driving (SAE-Level 2). On all road types, the “DISTRONIC” Active Distance Assist may automatically maintain the pre-set distance to cars ahead.

In the speed range of 37 to 155 mph (60 to 250 km/h), Active Steering Assist offers lane-following assistance, while Active Lane Keeping Assist employs a camera to identify lane markers and lane boundaries and helps to minimize unintended lane departure. When transferring to the neighboring lane, Active Lane Change Assist gives cooperative assistance.

At night, intelligent illumination is given in combination with DIGITAL LIGHT. If it detects that the driver is permanently disengaged from the road while driving, Active Emergency Stop Assist slows the car in its own lane to a stop. Even if “DISTRONIC” Active Distance Assist with Steering Assist is turned off, this operates as part of the basic Active Lane Keeping Assist system.

Active Brake Assist utilizes the vehicle’s sensors to determine if there is a danger of collision with cars ahead, crossing, or approaching from behind. The technology may alert the motorist visually and vocally if an accident is imminent.

If the driver’s braking is insufficient, it is also feasible to assist him or her by raising the braking force as needed, as well as beginning autonomous emergency braking if the driver does not respond.

Mercedes-Benz is not only establishing benchmarks for safety innovations in automotive engineering, but it is also taking a significant step forward on the path to autonomous driving with these and other sophisticated systems.

Level 3 autonomous cars systems

Mercedes-Benz is the first car business in the world to achieve the stringent regulatory standards of UN-R157 for a Level 3 system capable of conditionally autonomous driving in December 2021. Mercedes-Benz is launching DRIVE PILOT in Germany, where conditionally autonomous driving is permitted on 13,191 kilometers of highway.

Mercedes-Benz is also working hard to get clearance from authorities in the two U.S. states of California and Nevada by the end of the year, providing that the legal and regulatory frameworks allow it. Under specific situations, it triggers a paradigm change that allows the car to take over the dynamic driving duty.

Customers may reclaim time in the automobile via leisure or work with this ultimate luxury experience. For example, employees may use in-car office tools to contact coworkers, send messages and emails through the head unit, surf the internet, or just sit back, relax, and watch a movie.

DRIVE PILOT adds to the Driving Assistance Package’s surround sensors by including additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz thinks are essential for safe conditionally autonomous driving. These include LiDAR, a camera in the back window, and microphones, which are used to detect blue lights and other emergency vehicle signals.

A wetness sensor is also located in the wheel well. In addition to redundant steering and braking systems, the S-Class with optional DRIVE PILOT also boasts a redundant onboard electrical system. This keeps it maneuverable even if one of these systems fails, allowing for a safe transfer to the driver.

When it comes to establishing such a system, Mercedes-Benz prioritizes safety, which includes high criteria on operational dependability. An extremely sophisticated positioning system is used to establish the exact location of the S-Class. This is much more powerful than standard GPS. Furthermore, satellite navigation data is linked with sensor data and data from an HD map.

Road geometry, route features, landmarks, and traffic signs are among the types of data acquired by LiDAR, camera, radar, and ultrasonic sensors.

A digital HD map, which gives a three-dimensional street and environment view, includes information on road geometry, route profile, traffic signs, and unexpected traffic incidents (e.g. accidents or construction) in addition to sensor data. The map data is regularly updated and stored in backend data centers.

Each vehicle additionally keeps a picture of this map data on board, comparing it to the backend data and, if required, updating the local data set. As a result, the HD map provides consistent placement by representing the surroundings in a way that is independent of issues like shadows or a dirty sensor.

This high-precision map varies from navigation device maps in many ways, including increased accuracy down to centimeters rather than meters and a thorough junction and track model.

The advanced software features required for conditionally autonomous driving are provided by a powerful central control unit. Important algorithms are computed redundantly within the scope of the current security architecture.

Level 4 autonomous cars systems

The S-Class is the first series-production car in Germany to offer pre-installation of the company’s INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT as an option, with the EQS and EQE following later. INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT is a Bosch product that enables Automated Valet Parking in car parks with the necessary infrastructure.

The device then allows you to drive to and from a designated parking place — automatically and without having to get out of your car. Mercedes-Benz RDNA, in conjunction with Bosch, presented Automated Valet Parking with an EQS 580 at a recent event in downtown Los Angeles.

It demonstrated the efficacy, ease, and practicality of this cutting-edge, industry-leading new technology. Mercedes-Benz is analyzing the market to see whether pre-installation may be available in the future in the United States.

The motorist parks the vehicle in a designated drop-off place at the multi-story car park and begins the parking operation using a smartphone app, according to the vision. The motorist may exit the car park if the app certifies that the Automated Valet Parking infrastructure has assumed control of the vehicle.

The vehicle is then automatically started and led to its designated parking place by the car park’s sensors. It comes to a complete stop in front of any impediments, including people and other cars. The driver may summon the car with a simple smartphone order when they return. The vehicle then proceeds to a preset pick-up location.

EQE – the new mold for the future electric business sedans

The new EQE is the company’s second premium-class electric car built on the EVA2 platform. Engineered from the ground up for electric cars, it allows Mercedes-Benz’s “purpose design” and provides considerable aerodynamic and efficiency gains. The sporty EQE pushes the business saloon idea into the future. It has all of the important elements of the EQS premium liner in a smaller form.

The MBUX Hyperscreen, for example, is the interior’s ultimate showpiece. This 56-inch curved screen spans almost the full width of the interior, seamlessly integrating the instrument cluster, infotainment, and passenger display. A 12.3-inch OLED display and control surface is devoted to the front-seat passenger on the MBUX Hyperscreen.

It allows consumers to view stuff like video streaming or television while driving, making trips more pleasurable and exciting. The technology employs a camera-based blocking logic that can determine whether or not the driver is looking at the passenger display. If this is the case, the system dims dynamic content automatically.

Mercedes-Benz plans to include this function in Mercedes-EQ automobiles sold in the United States in 2022.