Into the Void – Dark Glass for Sleek Style with the IMH Series

In a car cockpit, your controls need to be easy to find, without making your dashboard feel busy. Your attention must always be on the road while driving, but you will certainly need to make adjustments as you go about your journey. Whether it’s climate control, music, hands-free calling or just signalling, driving is all about multitasking. With so much going on, the last thing you need is for your technology to get in the way.

It’s a tension that most stereo systems and head units struggle with. Powerful technology needs a certain amount of control, and the more functions you have, the more there is to think about. Permanent buttons improve certainty, but they also clutter the dashboard and interrupt the premium, integrated look that you were probably cultivating. The IMH Series attempts to answer that with a more disciplined approach. With a disappearing “black glass” design, the button area is designed to be there only when you need it.

None More Black

Let us explain. When the display is not being touched, the IMH Series stereos present an entirely seamless black panel, with a minimalist void in the place of ugly plastic buttons. The virtual button area does not stay lit, and does not leave behind any outlines or ghost icons. While this may sound purely functional, it matters more than it sounds. In modern interiors, especially in minimalist European and premium US designs, the centre stack is a big part of the cabin’s overall design. A clean “black glass” look keeps the dashboard calm, cohesive and refined, even when the system is in standby.

Instant Reactivity

As soon as your finger touches the screen, the controls illuminate - no lag, no delay. All the key actions become visible at exactly the moment your hand is already in position to use them. It’s a small interaction detail with a big payoff; you don’t have to hunt for controls when you want them, and you keep the simplicity of a full-screen design without sacrificing ease of use. The interface feels confident and deliberate, and not competing for your attention when you’re out on the road.

Into the Darkness

If there is no follow-up action within 3 seconds after the screen wakes, the illuminated buttons fade away again, leaving you with an uninterrupted surface once more. For night driving and long journeys, this really does help. Unnecessary light sources can pull attention away from the road, especially when the cabin is dark - I imagine many of us remember being banned from using the car's interior light while driving! Auto-hiding buttons help keep the driver’s focus where it belongs, while still providing immediate access when you need something.

Premium Choices

The invisible button concept is not about removing controls, but rather about showing the right controls at the right time. The control surface gives you instant and responsive clarity when you need it, and no visual noise when you don’t. We’ve put a lot of work into ensuring the controls appear instantly, and you’re not left poking a black hole. The quick response times of the chipset and processors inside make this possible, as we push further into what can be done inside the confines of a car stereo. As well as the premium appearance, we’re making sure that the workings of your new IMH Series unit exceed all expectations.

We think that our latest release is a bit of a leap forward. It’s thoughtfully engineered to do what you need it to do, with an emphasis on user experience, while never letting you forget the power that lurks beneath that foreboding, dark surface. The screen stays out of the story when you are simply driving, and becomes highly functional the moment you reach for it. With systems for Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen, alongside units for Audi, BMW, Ford and Mercedes-Benz, the IMH Series might be the thing that brings your car into the future.