If reports are to be believed, there could come a day when a BMW engine powers a Mercedes. But while the rumor mill speculates on such an unholy alliance, the two German luxury automakers remain fierce rivals. The man in charge of design at the three-pointed star didn’t hold back when asked to share his opinion of the new iDrive premiering in the iX3.

 

Gorden Wagener told Top Gear magazine he finds the new screen setup distracting. He was specifically referring to the Panoramic Vision, which technically isn’t a screen but a projection at the base of the windshield. It stretches from one A-pillar to the other, featuring three fixed widgets in the driver’s line of sight and six customizable tiles to the right. But Mercedes’ design boss sees more than one issue: