Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:
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Apple has partnered with Aston Martin to unveil Apple CarPlay Ultra—the next generation of CarPlay.
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Drivers will now be able to control the radio, climate control, and other facilities using Siri.
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The new software also allows iPhone-level customization with widgets, wallpapers, and themes.
Modern car dashboards now feature acres of screen real estate where analog gauges used to reside. While this move has proved controversial for many customers, it provides an excellent canvas for developers. Working with Aston Martin, Apple aimed to build on the existing capabilities of CarPlay to “deliver the best of iPhone and the best of the car.”
The new “Ultra” spec software does a lot more than just port select iPhone functions over to your car. Instead, CarPlay Ultra brings Apple software engineering and design into the automotive world, enabling you to interact with your car almost as easily as you interact with your iPhone or other Apple device.
Aesthetics
One significant difference between the current CarPlay system and CarPlay Ultra’s upgraded integration can be seen in the instrument cluster. At the most basic level, this allows the driver to display basic functions like music and maps from their phone without looking at the infotainment screen. This also includes unique Apple designs for instruments like the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge, among other things. Users can choose from a curated list of instrument cluster themes and wallpapers, just like they can with their iPhone (see above).
Apple says that it will work with automakers that opt into the service to craft bespoke themes for their vehicles, allowing for further customization to the driver’s liking. “Building on our in-house state-of-the-art infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalization opportunities, which place Aston Martin at the forefront of infotainment in the sector,” said Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin’s CEO. The system will also allow drivers to control vehicle functions like radio, air conditioning, and even performance settings with Siri.
Availability
CarPlay Ultra will immediately be available in the United States and Canada for Aston Martin’s vehicle lineup—Vantage, DB12, DBX, Vanquish, and Valhalla. Over the next 12 months, Apple’s all-new CarPlay suite will be rolled out worldwide. The British automaker says all new vehicles (in qualifying locations) will arrive with CarPlay Ultra installed, and the tech will be available in the coming weeks for existing vehicles with the brand’s latest infotainment system through a software update available at the dealership. We should note that you’ll also need an iPhone 12 running iOS 18.5 (at a minimum) to run CarPlay Ultra.
The Future
We could see CarPlay Ultra fundamentally changing the way that manufacturers design infotainment systems. We’re particularly curious what Mercedes-Benz’ “Hyperscreen” arrangement could look like with CarPlay Ultra support. As you see above, the EQS we had on test featured three screens that offered a combined 42.3 inches of touch-sensitive screen real estate for drivers and passengers to enjoy.
It also raises the question of how this could change the designs of the car interiors of tomorrow. Most buyers aren’t entirely excited about an interior that’s splashed full of screens, and it seems as though we’re still searching for the goldilocks zone when it comes to finding the right balance of screens, knobs, and buttons. We should also note that there are a surprising number of new vehicles today that don’t support CarPlay—Rivian, Tesla, Polestar, and even GM, to name a few.
That aside, major automakers like Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis have already committed to using CarPlay Ultra in their latest vehicles.
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