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CarPlay Ultra on Aston Martin – Image credit Apple
Hitting the streets at least five months late, Apple’s next-generation CarPlay experience that it is calling “CarPlay Ultra” will start arriving in Aston Martin cars in the next few weeks.
Apple first gave a sneak-peek at the next-generation CarPlay experience in 2022. At the time, it said that it would land on vehicles by the end of 2024.
What Apple showed was nothing less than the complete takeover of a car’s entire dashboard by CarPlay. Instead of being confined to a square-ish screen that shows a few apps, CarPlay Ultra runs everything.
And, it’s finally coming, after missing the date by five months. Apple made it clear that the feature is imminent in a press release on Thursday morning.
“iPhone users love CarPlay, and it has transformed how people connect with their vehicles. With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers, we are reimagining the in-car experience, making it even more unified and consistent,” said Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing Bob Borchers. “This next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, while deeply integrating with the car’s systems and showcasing the unique look and feel of each automaker. We are excited to kick off the rollout of CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin — and this is just the beginning, with more automakers on the way.”
Apple says that CarPlay Ultra provides content for every screen, including the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge. Drivers can choose to show information from their iPhone, like maps and media, along with information that comes from the car.
Another dashboard theme in CarPlay ultra – Image credit Apple
Drivers can also use onscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri to manage both standard vehicle functions. As rumored, CarPlay Ultra also introduces widgets powered by iPhone that perfectly fit the car’s screen or gauge cluster to provide information at a glance.
At the debut, Apple showed a slide featuring 14 car manufacturers, from Audi to Volvo, and none of them have released a car featuring the new CarPlay. Instead, Aston Martin, who just committed to a 2024 launch, is the first to get the update.
Beyond the teaser that it used, Apple filed drawings in 2024 with the European Union Intellectual Property Office illustrating the concept. These are only illustrations, but they at least point to Apple’s aims — and one of them has an Audi logo.
Two illustrations of CarPlay in Audi cars
Apple says that other automakers are working to bring CarPlay Ultra to drivers, including newly committed brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
Beginning in the U.S. and Canada, CarPlay Ultra will be available for Aston Martin’s core model lineup, and will expand to include vehicles globally in the next 12 months.
The experience is available in new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada starting today, and will be available for existing Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada featuring the brand’s next-generation infotainment system in the coming weeks through a software update available at local dealers.
CarPlay Ultra works with iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later.
