Mercedes-Benz’ new MBUX infotainment system will debut in next-gen A-Class

The 2018 Consumer Electric Show is full of exciting new technology for everyone, including the automotive industry. One of the most anticipated is the unveiling of the Linux-based MBUX that promised to bring a “revolution in the cockpit.”

Expect to see this infotainment system in upcoming compact models starting off with the next-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback. A camouflaged near-production prototype of the five-door model is currently in Las Vegas at the CES. This won’t be offered in the United States but then, the sedan version will make it to the country soon enough.

We will be giving you all the details you will need to know about the infotainment system, starting off with the seven-inch instrument cluster with a touchscreen of the same size that can be found on the A-Class. For the higher trim, the touchscreen gets an upgrade to a 10.25-inch version. Meanwhile, the top trim gets a dual 10.25 inch setup.

Whichever size or version you go for, each of them will be powered by a six-core CPU that runs on nVidia graphics chips. The MBUX has as much as 8 GB of RAM, which is also the same amount of memory that some computers have. If you are willing to spend more, you may opt for a head-up display set for an even brighter display.

Notably, it is not just the A-Class hatchback and its sedan version that will get the MBUX. In fact, the boxy GLB crossover that we saw a couple of days ago will be equipped with it too. Apart from these, the CLA and the next generation B-Class minivan will also make use of the technology-heavy dashboard. They will all feature voice and gesture controls, while the driver is able to customize the settings from three selectable screen layouts: modern classic, sport, and understated.

As for the navigation, the MBUX will be using a hard disc navigation with data from the HERE map. There will be as many as 64 colour options for the LED ambient lighting that customers can choose from. Near Field Communication (NFC) will be compatible with the infotainment system too. It also allows for the charging of USB Type C devices.

For now, Mercedes-Benz has not mentioned anything regarding the A-Class’ reveal date, though there were some reports from Germany indicating that we may actually see an online premiere early next month. There is a public debut scheduled for it at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March.