The car designed for INFLUENCERS: Mercedes-Benz unveils its new E-class complete with a giant touchscreen, selfie camera, massaging seats and built-in TikTok app

It’s the go-to app for many influencers around the world, and now social media stars can even use TikTok from their cars.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new car interior that’s perfect for influencers, featuring a giant touchscreen, selfie camera and built-in apps – including TikTok.

‘Customers can look forward to a particularly immersive entertainment experience in the new E‑Class,’ Mercedes-Benz explained.

‘Music, games and streaming content can be experienced in the car with almost all the senses.’

The futuristic interior will launch in the Mercedes E-Class W214 model, which will go on sale this summer.

The front passenger has access to a huge touchscreen where they can choose to watch films, TV programmes, or tap into apps

The front passenger has access to a huge touchscreen where they can choose to watch films, TV programmes, or tap into apps.

Thankfully for the driver, the car features an advanced camera-based visual shield, which lowers the screen’s brightness, reducing the risk of distraction.

Speaking to MailOnline, Tom Leggett, vehicle technology specialist at Thatcham Research explained how the Driver Monitoring System works. 

‘The Mercedes E-Class will be fitted with the latest Driver Monitoring System to prevent the risk of distraction for the driver,’ he said.

‘A camera (usually in the driver’s display) analyses the driver’s eye movements and can detect whether the eyes are looking at the front passenger screen. 

‘If this is the case the brightness of the passenger screen is reduced, and a warning issued to the driver. 

‘Additionally, the passenger display has ‘dual light control (DLC)’ that prevents dynamic content such as films from being seen peripherally by the person behind the wheel. 

‘This further reduces the risk of distracting the driver.’

If a TV programme or film just isn’t cutting the mustard, passengers can opt to use one of the five built-in apps instead – TikTok, Angry Birds, Webex, Zoom or Vivaldi.

‘With our mobile app, we bring people little moments of joy throughout their day,’ said David Saidden, Director of Distribution Business Development at TikTok.

‘As we aim to expand that experience for our users, we’re excited to partner with Mercedes-Benz to introduce immersive in-car entertainment, which will give our community more opportunities to enjoy the content they love.’ 

Alternatively, you can snap selfies or videos using the dashboard’s built-in camera.

‘When the vehicle is stationary, the driver can participate in online video conferences via e.g. Webex, and take personal photos and videos,’ Mercedes-Benz explained.

The car also features a Siri-like voice control system, which users can activate using the keyword ‘Hey Mercedes’.

If a TV programme or film just isn’t cutting the mustard, passengers can opt to use one of the five built-in apps instead – TikTok, Angry Birds (pictured), Webex, Zoom or Vivaldi

An ‘Active Ambient Lighting with Sound Visualisation’ system allows passengers to experience music with three senses.

‘Pieces of music and the sound from films or apps can be, felt and now also ‘seen’,’ Mercedes-Benz explained.

‘Visualisation takes place on the light strip of the Active Ambient Lighting.’

This light strip lines the entire car interior, and lights up in time to the audio, whether it’s music or TikTok videos.

‘For example, fast sequences of beats can cause rapid light changes, while flowing rhythms can create softly merging lighting moods,’ the car giant explained.

Other impressive features include an in-built wellness programme that can blast you with ‘soothing sounds’, ‘activating light’ and ‘mobilising massage’, and an anti-motion sickness programme that ensures you don’t feel queasy while filming TikToks on the go. 

The first models of the 214 E-Class series will arrive in Europe this summer, and in the US this autumn. 

Mercedes-Benz is yet to announce pricing, although the previous 213 E-Class starts at £48,775. 

An ‘Active Ambient Lighting with Sound Visualisation’ system allows passengers to experience music with three senses

Other impressive features include an in-built wellness programme that can blast you with ‘soothing sounds’, ‘activating light’ and ‘mobilising massage’, and an anti-motion sickness programme that ensures you don’t feel queasy while filming TikToks on the go

BMW unveils colour-changing car at CES 2023 – but says it won’t go on sale 

At CES 2023 in January, BMW unveiled a new concept car that flashes different colours.  

The BMW i Vision Dee was unveiled at BMW’s keynote address, which starred none other than the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The electric vehicle sport sedan uses electronic ink to transition between 32 colours, including purple, pink, yellow, white and red.

The body of the BMW i Vision Dee is divided into ‘microcapsules’ – tiny spherical particles with a diameter equivalent to the thickness of a human hair.

The electric vehicle sport sedan uses electronic ink to transition between 32 colours, including purple, pink, yellow, white and red 

These microcapsules contain colour pigments that, depending on the chosen setting, are stimulated by means of an electrical field.

This causes certain colour pigments to collect at the surface of each microcapsule, giving the car body the desired shade. 

BMW i Vision Dee can also project an image of the driver’s avatar onto the side window, viewable to people outside. 

And dimmable windows can also be used to ‘fade out reality’, although this is designed for when the car is not being driven. 

However, BMW told MailOnline that the car is just a prototype and that it wouldn’t be bringing it to market. 

When asked about the purpose of a colour-changing car, BMW said that it is ‘a vision of the distant future’. 

‘At BMW, we are always trying to push the envelope, which also means exploring all aspects of innovative materials,’ a spokesperson said.   

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