Mercedes-Benz Syncs Beats With Streets by Turning Your Car Into a Musical Instrument

Mercedes-Benz and will.i.am are tuning up a new generation of vehicles to play your life's soundtrack.

The luxury automaker's innovative MBUX Sound Drive feature, which was unveiled at Las Vegas' CES conference this year, promises to transform several models into a space for synchronizing music with the dynamics of driving. With a symphony of sounds perfectly beat-matched to the physical actions associated with driving, will.i.am called the new feature an "orchestra" for the road.

Central to this concept is the utilization of advanced sensors and software, which intricately weave the vehicles' actions—acceleration, steering, braking—into a musical tapestry. Each driving function triggers a corresponding musical response to create an immersive auditory experience behind the wheel.

Beyond just a feature for Mercedes vehicles, Sound Drive is being positioned as an "open music platform." That concept certainly invites the possibility for artists to contribute their own musical creations, tailored for various driving scenarios, to the forthcoming ecosystem.

Sound Drive is expected to be released as a software update around mid-2024. The release will be available to Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the second-generation MBUX system.