Mercedes has yet to fully reveal the new 2017 E-Class, but we had the chance to experience the next best thing: a hands-on preview of the interior. After spending some time with the new model, we can safely say it shakes up the game in terms of cabin design and user interface design for luxury cars in its segment. Here are 12 of the most notable design features on the new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and our thoughts on each.
A pre-production 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is shown below.
Wide-Screen Cockpit
An 8-inch display is considered luxurious by today’s standards, but the new E-Class features a 12.3-inch screen. Not just one, but two of them. In fact, the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch central display screen blend together to form one large, extremely thin unit under a common glass cover with piano lacquer framing. The whole unit can be lit up by ambient lighting, which makes it appear as if the display is floating above the dashboard.
Snap Judgment: Home run. The new display is sophisticated, and the two screens blend together in an uncluttered way.
Touch Control Buttons on the Steering Wheel
Mercedes says this new feature is a first for any automobile. The new E-Class features two small touchpads on the steering wheel, one on the left side and one on the right side. The left touchpad allows drivers to control functions on the instrument cluster, and the right one performs the same functions for the central display. Just swipe your finger across the touchpad to scroll through menu options much like you would on a smartphone. Press on the touchpad to select features on the menu.
Snap Judgment:
The touchpads work pretty well and are simple to use. You can even change the sensitivity of the touchpads (fast, medium, or slow) to make them more or less responsive. Medium seems plenty sufficient for our tastes.
We much prefer to use these mini-touchpads instead of the C-Class-inspired controller on the center console for many functions. But Mercedes says it keeps the old-school controller for customers who like things more traditional, many of whom are in Europe.
Three Instrument Cluster Designs
By maneuvering through the menus, drivers can choose from three design themes for the instrument cluster: Classic, Sport, and Progressive. Each features a different set of colors and fonts. You can also choose the type of information you see, such as navigation, revs, and eco driving information.
Snap Judgment: It deviates from tradition, but we like the sci-fi-inspired Progressive theme.
64-Color Ambient Lighting
LED light strips run along the edges of the central screen, lower center console, side doors, and door handles and into the rear cabin of the new E-Class. Best part? Drivers can choose from 64 colors. All you have to do is toggle along a color gradient to choose the right hue.
Snap Judgment: It’s not a game changer, and it might get old after a week, but it’s certainly a lot of fun to use. The colored lighting is subtle enough not to overwhelm the eyes, either. And we like that you can turn on the ambient lighting in the front of the cabin while keeping the rear seats unlit for sleeping passengers if you so choose.
“Woven Metal,” Decorative Wood Trims
Instead of aluminum or wood, why not option your E-Class with a new woven metal trim? The pattern can be seen along the dashboard and on the sides of the doors. Other surfaces include black or brown open-pore wood trim, aluminum trim, high-gloss wood trims, and Designo trims in black piano lacquer or brown magnolia wood with flowing lines.
Snap Judgment: Mercedes had us fooled, mistaking the metal weave trim for carbon fiber. It’s a nice choice if paired with less flashy cabin colors (think all black). We also think the open-pore wood is classy, but the decorative glossy wood with flowing lines can be a bit much if paired with some of the more flamboyant two-tone interiors.
New Two-Tone Surfaces
New interior color combinations include brown/macchiato and saddle brown/macchiato. Mercedes says its new macchiato beige is brighter and less yellow than similar previous versions.
Snap judgment: We think these two-tone surfaces would look great with the open-pore wood.
Not only are the new E-Class seats extremely structured, but they were also designed to resemble the human body. The seat back takes inspiration from the human torso, and the shoulders of the car take after a tailor’s dummy. Each seat is designed differently depending on the model line, although all have a similar sculpted shape.
Snap Judgment: Although the seat material feels comfortable, some people might gripe about the bottom seat cushion being a bit too long. The shape of the seat also might be too narrow for larger occupants. This matter will need further investigation once we get more time with the car.
No comments:
Post a Comment