The hum of the power windows and an in-dashboard music system were exciting interior additions in my Black Cielo during the early 90’s. A black beauty by South Korean manufacturer ‘National Motors’ with white leather seats, was a prized possession I never wanted to leave.
Luxury is not just determined by materialistic upgrades but it is often found in the smaller details like in the Audi Q8—this German beast gets a makeover in its forthcoming ‘upgraded’ model scheduled to launch in August / September 2024. Retaining its tech details, the models launched abroad feature some advance tech for the dashboard—from handwriting recognition on the touchscreen panel to 23 speakers as part of it’s Bang & Olufsen sound system along with re-tractable lens tweeters. Not just this, this sporty four-door luxury coupé is also expanding the range of apps. For the first time, passengers can use popular apps from third-party providers (for example Spotify or Amazon Music). Regular software updates and a constantly expanding range of apps make for even greater individualisation of the infotainment system.
In contrast, the Land Rover Defender doesn’t take a backseat with its seating. Its new enhancements, the Signature Interior Pack and Captain Chairs Pack for the Defender 130, enhance passenger comfort with individual luxury seats, armrests, winged headrests, and easy third-row access along with upgraded materials, storage pockets and tactile accents. The Sedona Edition features Ebony Windsor Leather and Kvadrat™ seats for a durable, tactile interior. The Captain Chairs offer heating, cooling, and memory functions, ensuring first-class comfort across all seat-ing positions and a truly smooth travel best suited for long drives. All features that combine rug-ged capability with refined luxury for the Defender.
If you customisations seriously and prefer a fully bespoke version, Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program is the pinnacle of personalisation. It allows customers to tailor make their vehicles to an extraordinary degree. The Lamborghini Revuelto, for instance, features a driver-focused cockpit with customisable ambient lighting, premium leather, and Alcantara upholstery. It recently showcased an impressive collaboration with Sonus Faber—integrating an optional high-fidelity sound system that provides an inimitable audio experience, thanks to this manufacturer of luxury handcrafted speaker systems. The use of carbon fiber and other lightweight materials emphasises performance without compromising on luxury.
Meanwhile, the Lamborghini Urus combines the performance of a supercar with the practicality of an SUV. Its interior boasts high-quality materials, including leather, Alcantara, and carbon fiber. The Urus also features a customisable TFT display, a high-definition touch screen for info-tainment, and a range of options for personalisation through the Ad Personam program, making each vehicle unique to its owner’s preferences.
Rejuvenation Is The Key
Today, car interiors have advanced significantly, especially in luxury models and seeping into our psyche, tempting us on multiple levels.. The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 SUV epitomises ultra-luxury and bespoke craftsmanship, delivering an unparalleled experience from first glance to full immersion. The first class split seats in both the front and rear offer lounge-like adjustment with a spa-like menu of massages. A refrigerated compartment can be accessorised with handcrafted silver champagne flutes by German silversmiths Robbe & Berking. The cabin is enveloped in hand-finished wood, edge-lit by LED, with a touchpad hand-rest inlaid with the Maybach crest. Elegant running boards extend to greet you, their grips echoing the Maybach grille blades. The GLS 600 offers a range of driving modes and features E-Active Body Control, optimising driving feel and minimising passenger motion. This SUV seamlessly combines high-tech with high-touch, making every journey refined, responsive, and rewarding.
If that’s not enough, navigating heavy traffic in the new BMW 7 Series feels rejuvenating, thanks to its innovative My Modes, creating an interplay of vehicle functions, displays, and interior ambiance. These modes can be selected by voice command or a button on the centre console. Offering up to seven My Modes—standard modes include Personal, Sport, and Efficient with new additions like Expressive Mode, combining dramatic lighting and abstract patterns with an unconventional soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Relax Mode focuses on well-being with calming imagery, soothing music, ambient blue lighting, and massage function-enable seats. Digital Art Mode, a collaboration with Chinese artist Cao Fei, offers a unique cultural experience with her work ‘Quantum Garden’. Theatre Mode transforms the rear compartment into a private cinema lounge with a 31-inch BMW Theatre Screen, sun blinds, and adjustable seating and lighting, providing an immersive entertainment experience for rear passengers.
A Sustainable Upgrade
The IONIQ 5 stormed onto Indian roads with its aerodynamic, head-swiveling features, but its legacy of sustainability trickles down to the interior with upholstery made from recycled PET bottles. Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 takes it further miles ahead. Winner of the 2023 World Car Awards, this upgrade, a sculpted sporty sedan with a dozen colour options has a sensuous streamlined silhouette which packs a whole lot of sustainable materials inside. It is estimated to launch sometime in 2025. With eco-friendly materials like flax-seed-dyed artificial leather, recycled PET fabric seats, and carpets made from recycled fishing nets, it is innovation in its finest form. It features a unique Dual Color Ambient Lighting with 64 color options for personalised, mood-enhancing settings, while a minimalist dashboard and flat central console create a driver-centric layout. The Dual 12-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system enhance the tech-forward ambiance, while Speed Sync Lighting adjusts cabin brightness as per the speed one is driving at, and ample storage includes a slim door, sliding glove box, and versatile center console tray. The E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) ensures maximum interior space with a flat floor, allowing for ultimate comfort.
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Jaguar Land Rover are also making significant strides in sustainable luxury. The Mercedes-Benz EQC features interiors crafted from recycled materials, including seat fabrics made from recycled PET bottles, and focuses on sustainable wood and leath-er alternatives. BMW’s full electric i4 eDrive35 refines interior elegance with a sustainable twist—expect seats upholstered in Sensatec, an eco-friendly material that mirrors the look and feel of genuine leather, offering both comfort and sustainability. The interior trims feature fine wood accents sourced from sustainable forests, adding a touch of natural beauty to the sophisti-cated design. Audi’s e-tron uses recycled materials for upholstery and trims, aiming to minimise environmental impact during production. Jaguar’s I-PACE boasts interiors with recycled plastics and sustainable fabrics, aligning with their commitment to reducing production-related ecological impacts.
Together, these automakers are redefining luxury through collaborations, legacy features and a focus on the physical and mental well-being of the driver and passengers, including eco-friendly interiors and sustainable practices.
Images courtesy respective brands.
