Mercedes-AMG teamed up with multi-platinum rapper will.i.am to debute a new sound system at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. The MBUX Sound Drive takes the onboard audio experience to a whole new level, the carmaker promises.
The sound system, which Mercedes describes as 'state-of-the-art' tech, is designed to react to the way the car is driven. The technology is based on software that allows the music to follow the driver's style of driving, turning the trip into an emotional experience and synching the ride with the mood of the one behind the steering wheel.
The MBUX Sound Drive integrates sensors and advanced software that helps it interpret various driving dynamics. Parameters such as energy recuperation, acceleration, steering, and braking are thus converted into musical expressions.
The technology is also capable of syncing with other in-car 'signals,' such as rain sensors, for instance. The system will thus play soothing rhythms in order to reduce the driver's stress and help them focus. This is how the driver and the elements virtually become real-time composers.
Chief Technology Officer, Markus Schafer, says the system is designed to bring a smile to customers, while putting them in control of the way their music sounds on board the car.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG
Involved in the project since the very start, will.i.am says the MBUX Sound Drive is a new frontier for music creation, but also a way of turning cars into a musical instrument. The multi-platinum rapper threw his skills into the game to help develop an interactive music experience on board the Mercedes-AMG cars.
The system links the hardware of the heckle to the music software through in-car 'signals' that enable the music played in the cabin to react to driving characteristics in real time. And that is not the only thing that the platform can do. Artists from around the world can create special tracks from any music genre by simply using the immersive audio format with the help of the MBUX Sound Drive studio software.
Cars equipped with the futuristic sound system will start rolling out from mid-2024. An over-the-air (OTA) update can also bring the technology to any Mercedes equipped with the second-generation MBUX system. Owners must access the Update Wizard on their MBUX display or on the Mercedes me app once they receive the notification that it is available in their region. The availability and pricing depend on the market, technical abilities of the car, and settings in the vehicle.
Present in Las Vegas, Mercedes-AMG offers test drives to those interested in finding out how the new sound system actually works. They can also bump into rap star will.i.am, who is at the Mercedes-Benz booth located in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
This is not the first time Mercedes-AMG has asked for help from the Black Eyed Peas frontman. Will.i.am played the lead role in the advertising campaign for AMG's first electrified car, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, back in 2021. The rap star showed up in a 60-second film that promoted the performance hybrid.
Furthermore, in May 2022, Mercedes unveiled the The Flip, the one-off project which came as the result of a collaboration between the performance brand, the rapper, and West Coast Customs. The model based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupe featured retro styling, borrowing the angular design as well as the circular headlights from the G-Class off-roader.
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