Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

[MacRumors]

Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.

In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

CarPlay Ultra features deeper integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in apps for radio and climate controls, rear-view camera feed support, and more. The connected iPhone provides app-related data, while the vehicle provides information like the current speed, fuel level, tire pressure, engine temperature, and more.

The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can choose from various preset design options.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told that CarPlay Ultra would come to at least one major new Hyundai or Kia vehicle model "in the second half of this year," so hopefully an expansion is just a few months away.

Article Link: Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

 

[ikramerica]

Carplay is not a customizable interface so I don’t use it on my VW 2026 Tiguan. I have the larger screen and the VW display has multiple customizable home pages PLUS and apps/functions screen PLUS dedicated screens for each app/function.

I use BT audio/phone connection for the iPhone because the VW media player is just as good/bad as the carplay/Music app, the VW phone app is just as good/bad the carplay phone app.

But the VW interface has a much nicer look to it, and being able to choose which widgets go where and what size and having multiple home screens is far better than Apples dated looking carplay icon or single fixed home screen layout.

And the VW setup isn’t even that great. I understand some other brands have even better built-in.

The only thing I use carplay for is route guidance because I can click directly on an appointment and have it map it. But even then, I have to use my PHONE to do that, then let carplay do the guidance. If BT connection could send addresses to the built in car Nav, I probably wouldn’t use carplay at all.

 

[MNWildFan]

Carplay is not a customizable interface so I don’t use it on my VW 2026 Tiguan. I have the larger screen and the VW display has multiple customizable home pages PLUS and apps/functions screen PLUS dedicated screens for each app/function.

I use BT audio/phone connection for the iPhone because the VW media player is just as good/bad as the carplay/Music app, the VW phone app is just as good/bad the carplay phone app.

But the VW interface has a much nicer look to it, and being able to choose which widgets go where and what size and having multiple home screens is far better than Apples dated looking carplay icon or single fixed home screen layout.

And the VW setup isn’t even that great. I understand some other brands have even better built-in.

The only thing I use carplay for is route guidance because I can click directly on an appointment and have it map it. But even then, I have to use my PHONE to do that, then let carplay do the guidance. If BT connection could send addresses to the built in car Nav, I probably wouldn’t use carplay at all.

No customizable interface?

Ever since which ever update introduced the widget view, it has become the most customizable that it ever has been in years and I will still preferred over any cars built-in infotainment interface

Now granted, my Hyundai's built-in UI is pretty good with it's built-in maps and all, but once the 3 year trial I currently have to get OTA updates for those maps expire, I will not be paying for it as the navigation apps we get via CarPlay will always be up to date

Frankly, I would more than welcome this because while in my new Hyundai, I just got I can control the climate stuff via the built-in voice assistant, being able to do it right via Siri from my iPhone/CarPlay would be all the better because 90% of the time I do CP instead of the built-in AM/FM radio now myself

 

[ikramerica]

No customizable interface?

Ever since which ever update introduced the widget view, it has become the most customizable that it ever has been in years and I will still preferred over any cars built-in infotainment interface

Now granted, my Hyundai's built-in UI is pretty good with it's built-in maps and all, but once the 3 year trial I currently have to get OTA updates for those maps expire, I will not be paying for it as the navigation apps we get via CarPlay will always be up to date

Frankly, I would more than welcome this because while in my new Hyundai, I just got I can control the climate stuff via the built-in voice assistant, being able to do it right via Siri from my iPhone/CarPlay would be all the better because 90% of the time I do CP instead of the built-in AM/FM radio now myself

I will try widget view (last car had a tiny screen, so wasn’t worthwhile), but unless it combines car features with carplay, it’s not as customizable as you are claiming.

I listen to SiriusXM mostly, so can I have the widget view show me car radio in one area, carplay maps in another, car telemetry in another, etc?

 

[Corefile]

People hate touch interfaces for instruments like the AC or fan control. It's why manufacturers are returning to such controls. Sounds like Car Play Ultra is for a very niche market (i.e. nobody).

 

[turbineseaplane]

People hate touch interfaces for instruments like the AC or fan control. It's why manufacturers are returning to such controls. Sounds like Car Play Ultra is for a very niche market (i.e. nobody).

Thankfully VW has learned this lesson and their upcoming EVs are bringing back a lot of physical controls.

 

[sully54]

CarPlay ultra was the first Apple Intelligence

 

[jayducharme]

Apple seems to really be into the word "ultra" these days.

 

[Icehawk]

So no new news? Just what they said last year. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[svish]

Good to know about this. Expecting to see more vehicles supporting the new CarPlay later this year.

 

[xmarcuswildx]

Hoping this comes to my 2025 EV6.

 

[dugbug]

People hate touch interfaces for instruments like the AC or fan control. It's why manufacturers are returning to such controls. Sounds like Car Play Ultra is for a very niche market (i.e. nobody).

Huh? You can have physical ac controls with it

 

[CrysisDeu]

carplay ultra is and will be a massive failure. Apple needs their own car to make a good car OS

 

[con2apple]

carplay ultra is and will be a massive failure. Apple needs their own car to make a good car OS

But everyone knew that from the start.
Everyone said so. Well, everyone except Apple fans.

Because everyone knew that no manufacturer wants to give up control over its products.

As if there were a user interface called “Windows Ultra” for operating the Mac, and ALL system parameters - including performance statistics - were transmitted by Apple VOLUNTARILY and free of charge to Microsoft. Yes, Apple would even voluntarily pay a fee to hand over its product information to Microsoft for free.

That’s Apple CarPlay Ultra.

 

[Corefile]

Huh? You can have physical ac controls with it

I think you don't drive.

 

[andy9l]

I think you don't drive.

I think you don’t understand. Physical buttons - which you’re in favour of - can be used with CarPlay Ultra in the immediate term.

You’re being short-sighted thinking about today, not the future - ie. the real reason Apple are pursuing this deep integration of their OS with cars. The very same reason, in fact, that car manufacturers are pushing back.

Hint: The ambition for CarPlay is not a touch screen UI slapped on a dashboard.

 

[Corefile]

I think you don’t understand. Physical buttons - which you’re in favour of - can be used with CarPlay Ultra in the immediate term.

You’re being short-sighted thinking about today, not the future - ie. the real reason Apple are pursuing this deep integration of their OS with cars. The very same reason, in fact, that car manufacturers are pushing back.

Hint: The ambition for CarPlay is not a touch screen UI slapped on a dashboard.

I've no idea what you're wibbling on about. People buy cars and use the controls in that car they have. It's well-known that car manufacturers are going back to physical controls as people hate, HATE, buggering about with touchscreens to do simple stuff. As I say, I don't think you drive (assuming you're the original poster I responded to).

 

[sflagel]

I use CarPlay a lot, I like it a lot.
But I really would prefer if more native apps could access content of other services.
I’d would love my native car media player to access my Apple Music library; my native calendar app in the car my Apple calendar; my car native parking app RingGo.
Just like my SatNav uses Google Maps, or my email client accesses my gmail.

 

[sflagel]

Carplay is not a customizable interface so I don’t use it on my VW 2026 Tiguan. I have the larger screen and the VW display has multiple customizable home pages PLUS and apps/functions screen PLUS dedicated screens for each app/function.

I use BT audio/phone connection for the iPhone because the VW media player is just as good/bad as the carplay/Music app, the VW phone app is just as good/bad the carplay phone app.

But the VW interface has a much nicer look to it, and being able to choose which widgets go where and what size and having multiple home screens is far better than Apples dated looking carplay icon or single fixed home screen layout.

And the VW setup isn’t even that great. I understand some other brands have even better built-in.

The only thing I use carplay for is route guidance because I can click directly on an appointment and have it map it. But even then, I have to use my PHONE to do that, then let carplay do the guidance. If BT connection could send addresses to the built in car Nav, I probably wouldn’t use carplay at all.

I agree with you. I would go a step further: the native apps should be able to access the Apple Libraries (Music, Contacts, Calendar, etc) directly without the phone present. No BT needed.
Just like any email client can access any email service.

 

[lilkwarrior]

Still waiting for it to release on Porsche Taycans

 

[applefan8254]

Would like to see apple release an actual entire electric vehicle instead of just carplay. They could do "apple things" like making 80 amp home charging standard and even push the boundaries of level 2 charging with optional 100 amp / 120 amp upgrades. It's more fun to charge from 40% to 80% (120 miles to 240 miles) in 2 hours instead of 4 or 5 hours.

 

[MNWildFan]

carplay ultra is and will be a massive failure. Apple needs their own car to make a good car OS

Yeah, they already tried the car part, and that was DOA

As for CarPlay Ultra, yeah it has been a massive failure from the start, much like Apple Intelligence has so far too

Seriously, if you're going to promise all these things, why limit it to one luxury vehicle brand that only so many can afford instead of just rolling it out to the mainstream brands like they should have from the start

 

[andy9l]

I've no idea what you're wibbling on about. People buy cars and use the controls in that car they have. It's well-known that car manufacturers are going back to physical controls as people hate, HATE, buggering about with touchscreens to do simple stuff. As I say, I don't think you drive (assuming you're the original poster I responded to).

You’re acutely focused on the legacy tech and experience of today, rather than the future. To narrow down my comment and put this very simply:

Physical buttons will be used with CarPlay Ultra. Whether the “button” is physical or touch bears no relevance to whether or not CarPlay Ultra is the OS handling it.

Manufacturers going back to physical buttons and CarPlay Ultra becoming the new standard OS for vehicle infotainment are two totally independent decisions.

I’m not saying it’ll be successful. But I will say that having one OS that runs your entire life from “desktop”, to phone, to watch, to car would offer a huge leap forward. Especially when we already carry the device running it in our pocket.

The challenge I foresee with success are legislation and cost pressures on car manufacturers forcing some to pivot their USP towards infotainment. They can’t let Apple eliminate that.

I use CarPlay a lot, I like it a lot.
But I really would prefer if more native apps could access content of other services.
I’d would love my native car media player to access my Apple Music library; my native calendar app in the car my Apple calendar; my car native parking app RingGo.
Just like my SatNav uses Google Maps, or my email client accesses my gmail.

This approach results in massive duplication, overheads, and EOL support issues.

From a software architecture perspective, this is arguably the worst possible solution!

You likely yearn for this solution because the integration of CarPlay with your car’s native interfaces is weak today. If CarPlay was your entire infotainment system, then your “native apps” are literally the apps you described.

 

[demodave]

I'm not gonna buy a * Hyundai or a Kia to get CarPlay Ultra.

Both my cars (BMW and Subaru) are older than iPhone, so I'd be interested in infotainment dashboard/console upgrades that might include CarPlay Ultra. Any info on that???

 

[CrysisDeu]

Yeah, they already tried the car part, and that was DOA

As for CarPlay Ultra, yeah it has been a massive failure from the start, much like Apple Intelligence has so far too

Seriously, if you're going to promise all these things, why limit it to one luxury vehicle brand that only so many can afford instead of just rolling it out to the mainstream brands like they should have from the start

That’s a skill issue and I am worried the Titan project failure will be a blocker for all future potentials