Hyundai unveils concept of car interior after asking the question 'why do we need a screen?'

Hyundai’s new concept car reflects a new Hyundai design language with physical buttons and adds fuel to the touchscreen debate.

Large touchscreens are replaced with smaller displays placed where they are most useful.

Many drivers have said big panels are distracting and difficult to navigate, and this design responds to that concern.

The touchscreen debate is now a question for the entire industry, and Hyundai is taking a clear position.

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Inside the concept car

Simon Loasby, head of Hyundai’s design center in Korea, recently asked why large screens are needed at all.

He noted that drivers still rely on physical buttons for tasks like adjusting the temperature, setting seat heaters, and controlling media.

The concept car applies that thinking with a reduced but focused layout.

The cabin includes small digital screens close to the steering wheel and a row of physical buttons across the dashboard.

This arrangement makes key functions quick to reach and limits time spent looking away from the road.

Hyundai design leadership has said the priority is safety, not the size of the display.

The approach continues ideas raised during the launch of the Ioniq 9, when Hyundai pointed to the value of physical buttons for frequent use.

The concept car shows how the touchscreen debate could shape production vehicles in the years ahead.

Where the industry stands on screens

Hyundai is one of several automakers rethinking interior design.

Cadillac has shown a concept that drops the traditional central touchscreen in favor of slimmer displays across the dash.

Other companies are exploring voice controls or turning the windshield into an augmented-reality display.

The industry is now divided between adding larger screens and reducing them.

Surveys show that many drivers are dissatisfied with complicated infotainment systems, and this feedback is leading designers to reconsider their strategies.

Physical buttons are being reintroduced as simple solutions that improve usability and reduce distraction.

Hyundai’s concept car demonstrates how this shift can be applied in practice.

By aligning Hyundai design with physical buttons and smaller screens, the project offers one interpretation of where interiors could be heading.

It suggests that usability and safety may carry more influence in future models than screen size alone.

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