Apple’s CarPlay Ultra, announced today, is Apple’s biggest step to control your car’s dashboard. First shown at WWDC 2022, this new version of CarPlay isn’t just an app update—it takes over all your vehicle’s screens, including the infotainment system and the instrument cluster. But unless you’re cruising in a shiny new Aston Martin, you’ll have to wait to experience it.
CarPlay Ultra transforms your car into an extension of your iPhone, seamlessly blending Apple’s ecosystem with your vehicle’s systems. It’s not just about mirroring apps anymore; Ultra integrates deeply with the car’s hardware, controlling everything from climate settings to custom gauges. Available today on new Aston Martin vehicles in the US and Canada, it’s a premium experience—literally and figuratively.
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CarPlay Ultra commandeers every display, including the driver’s instrument cluster, replacing stock gauges with sleek, Apple-designed speedometers, tachometers, and fuel gauges. Think iOS aesthetics, but for your dashboard. Drivers can tweak color schemes and layouts to match their vibe or the automaker’s brand. Aston Martin’s bespoke themes scream luxury, but Apple’s working with Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis for more accessible options down the road.
Control radio, AC, and even performance modes (like exhaust settings) via touchscreen, physical buttons, or Siri. Widgets bring iPhone apps—maps, music, calendar—right to the cluster for glanceable info. With iOS 19, CarPlay Ultra will support Large Text and enhanced Sound Recognition for detecting crying babies or sirens, a boon for deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers.
CarPlay Ultra is exclusive to Aston Martin’s high-end rides for now, like the DBX SUV and Vanquish sports car, making it a tough sell for the average driver. Even with promises of rollouts to Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, availability is a sticking point. Plus, it requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5, so older devices are out of luck. And don’t expect it to fix CarPlay’s lingering issues, like dropped connections or sluggish performance with certain phones.
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. 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,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.
