2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class to bring smartphone key tech - Cars Guide
Key to the future lies beneath camouflaged E-Class sedan. Mercedes-Benz locking system engineer Santiago Pena Brossa touches his HTC smartphone gently against the door handle of the E-Class. While the visuals will remain under wraps for some time yet, Mercedes-Benz is ready to talk about some of the new E-Class's innermost technical secrets. It's a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of driving, because where Mercedes-Benz goes, others inevitably will follow. The day the new E-Class goes on sale will be the beginning of the end for the conventional car key, it seems. In time it will go the way of the videotape, floppy disk and CD. Pena Barossa promises Mercedes-Benz will be the first to introduce the smartphone car key to market. The feature will be offered first as an option on the new E-Class, then spread to other models from the German carmaker. According to Pena Brossa, the Mercedes Me website will offer a facility for customers to check whether their smartphone can be used as a key. At first it will be possible to install only four "keys" on a phone, but the next step will permit any number. Source: www.carsguide.com.au
