Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

[Kottu]

I used to drive a 2018 Volvo XC60, and honestly, its voice assistant outperformed Siri. We all know Siri hasn’t evolved much since Apple acquired it. When I said, “It’s cold in here,” the Volvo would respond by confirming it was increasing the temperature by one degree Celsius. It felt intuitive.

In contrast, when I ask Siri to call my son, it often tries to call someone with a completely unrelated name. It still can’t pronounce my name properly. I gave Google Gemini a try, and it learned my name on the first attempt.

Now that Volvo has integrated Google into its newer models, it’s easy to see why they didn’t put their trust in Apple. Unlike Apple, Google doesn’t force you to buy a new device to access its latest AI features. I don’t need a brand-new phone—or even an Android device—to use Gemini. Hardware requirements just aren’t a roadblock.

Meanwhile, Apple is rolling out CarPlay 2, which offers deeper integration with car systems—but most of us are stuck with the old version, with no real upgrades. And if you want access to this new “CarPlay 2” or the so-called “Ultra” experience, you apparently need to buy a new Aston Martin. Given Aston Martin’s reputation for unreliability, maybe Apple should include Apple Arcade in CarPlay—at least then drivers would have something to do while waiting for a tow truck.

 

[Ozid]

Have a 2025 Hyundai, prepared to be disappointed that my totally capable technologically vehicle won't be getting updated to utilize this.

 

[Gloor]

Car play ULTRA - ROFL - they really lost the plot here

 

[mxrider88]

What a STUPID name.
That’s when the marketing department runs the company.

Does it stand for ultra delayed or ultra buggy?

Does it even connect?
I guess unless you buy a 200k car you won’t figure it out..

 

[efktd]

I don't know. Someone in these threads once said MacOS now looks like rainbow vomit, I'll never forget that comment. I woundn't want my car to look like that too.

 

[routine_analyst]

As someone who has a high end vehicle, I want MORE ways for my iPhone to integrate with the stunning Infotainment system that's already in the vehicle. CarPlay was great when it was far better than what came on the car a few years back... but now the brand (I won't mention it) that I have far exceeds this now. When I shop for expensive cars, I am buying the experience. Apple better figure out a way to make this look more like the vehicle than another Apple Watch screen dial. This is just pathetic.

 

[DoctorMesmer]

I currently use CarPlay every day and the absence of CarPlay/Android Auto would be a deal breaker for me when buying my next car.

 

[Paul7]

Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation infotainment system via a software update in the coming weeks. Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said:



CarPlay Ultra is designed to bring a consistent look and feel to the entire driving experience. It integrates more directly with the vehicle to provide information on all of the driver's screens, featuring real-time content and gauges in the instrument cluster with options for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and more.

Drivers can choose to display information from the iPhone, such as maps and media, alongside information from the vehicle, such as advanced driver assistance systems and tire pressure.

Moreover, drivers can use on-screen controls, physical buttons, and Siri to navigate through and operate standard vehicle functions such as radio and climate, as well as vehicle-specific features like audio system configurations or performance settings, all within the CarPlay Ultra system.

CarPlay Ultra also offers iPhone-style widgets that the user can configure to their liking, allowing them to get information at a glance, such as upcoming calendar events, weather conditions, and more.

Automakers can reflect their unique look and feel of their brand in the CarPlay Ultra experience with custom themes that "feel tailor-made for each vehicle." Drivers can also personalize the wallpapers and colors of themes to match their individual preferences. Aston Martin said:



CarPlay Ultra is available for new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada, and will expand to include vehicles globally in the next year. Existing Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada that contain the automaker's next-generation infotainment system will be eligible for a software update available at local dealers to add support for CarPlay Ultra in the coming weeks. CarPlay Ultra now features on Aston Martin's homepage.

Other automakers around the world are still working to bring CarPlay Ultra to drivers, according to Apple. Newly committed brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra works with the iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later.

Article Link: Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Absolutely! I used to own a Tesla and one of the worst problems with the car was the lack of CarPlay. I finally switched to a car with CarPlay and it is so much nicer. I will definitely be looking for CarPlay Ultra on my next Car!

 

[psalex]

I cancelled a car (Rivian) because I found out it didn't have CarPlay. As someone with multiple cars that we share in our family, i love being able to seamlessly go from one to another with continuity.
We also never rent cars that don't have carplay. Not sure what GM is thinking about, but it's not going to help their sales/resales.

 

[abcmax]

It looks like CarPlay Ultra became an infotainment system in the car. Does it mean cars with CarPlay Ultra won’t have Android Auto support?

 

[KRG]

Stupid. I love Apple products, but I hate CarPlay and would never want this generic UI for my car. I will never understand people’s obsession with it. My Rivian OS has real time traffic, Apple Music, Spotify, Audible, YouTube, etc etc and a UI that’s fitting for the vehicle.

I see people literally buying aftermarket screens they tack on just to have CarPlay and it’s mind-blowing. Every time I use it in a rental I think it’s so lame. It made sense 8 years ago when built in systems were awful, but not anymore.

 

[KRG]

I cancelled a car (Rivian) because I found out it didn't have CarPlay. As someone with multiple cars that we share in our family, i love being able to seamlessly go from one to another with continuity.
We also never rent cars that don't have carplay. Not sure what GM is thinking about, but it's not going to help their sales/resales.

You still could’ve, because the Rivian user profiles save all your data, including different accounts for different users on Apple Music, Spotify etc right to the car. Walk up with your phone and it loads all your stuff the way you like it, tailored to you, automatically.

I think people just like CarPlay because it’s so familiar. It’s really not anything special. It’s also a PITA when you have to wait for it to connect to your phone and load, which I never need to do with a native system. Every time I have a rental, even Audis and other higher end rentals, it takes like 15 seconds for the car to recognize my phone and allow me to access CarPlay. No thanks.

 

[squaros]

This is hard to care about. Getting Siri to play the song I want is rare success. There's no chance asking her to turn the heat down will be more convenient than reaching over and turning the heat down.

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

I guess the Ultra monicker is to further solidify the concept that this is not to be expected in all cars going forward but is very much a luxury feature reserved to luxury brands

Say what you will about how eyeroll inducing Ultra is, but calling it “Next Generation CarPlay” was implying it was eventually gonna be available anywhere and that’s clearly never going to be the case

 

[Mega ST]

Our new car can display car play but we don't use it. We hook on our iPhones and that's it. For more complex navigation I have a tiny portable Garmin with traffic in case I need it. Otherwise I listen to digital radio. There is nothing wrong with car play or Apple. But I don't like my car to look "Apple" or "iPhone". I just don't need weather tiles or album logos on my screen.

 

[A Happening in Hades]

Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation infotainment system via a software update in the coming weeks. Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said:



CarPlay Ultra is designed to bring a consistent look and feel to the entire driving experience. It integrates more directly with the vehicle to provide information on all of the driver's screens, featuring real-time content and gauges in the instrument cluster with options for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and more.

Drivers can choose to display information from the iPhone, such as maps and media, alongside information from the vehicle, such as advanced driver assistance systems and tire pressure.

Moreover, drivers can use on-screen controls, physical buttons, and Siri to navigate through and operate standard vehicle functions such as radio and climate, as well as vehicle-specific features like audio system configurations or performance settings, all within the CarPlay Ultra system.

CarPlay Ultra also offers iPhone-style widgets that the user can configure to their liking, allowing them to get information at a glance, such as upcoming calendar events, weather conditions, and more.

Automakers can reflect their unique look and feel of their brand in the CarPlay Ultra experience with custom themes that "feel tailor-made for each vehicle." Drivers can also personalize the wallpapers and colors of themes to match their individual preferences. Aston Martin said:



CarPlay Ultra is available for new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada, and will expand to include vehicles globally in the next year. Existing Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada that contain the automaker's next-generation infotainment system will be eligible for a software update available at local dealers to add support for CarPlay Ultra in the coming weeks. CarPlay Ultra now features on Aston Martin's homepage.

Other automakers around the world are still working to bring CarPlay Ultra to drivers, according to Apple. Newly committed brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra works with the iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later.

Article Link: Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Will it operate the machine gun, smoke screen and ejector seat on my old DB-5?

 

[subjonas]

I think CarPlay Ultra will be a nice upgrade to CarPlay, but judging from what I’ve seen so far (which is hopefully not the full picture), it doesn’t seem to solve one of my biggest issues with the CarPlay UI, which is there’s not enough static buttons and UI elements. When UI/buttons keep changing—namely the “most recent” app icons, the home screen/multi-window view button, and the windows within the multi-window view—they’re not dependable, and when I’m driving I need my cockpit controls and displays to be as dependable as possible. Physical controls and dedicated displays are most ideal of course, but even on a touch screen, the less I have to look and as much muscle memory as I can develop the better, and permanence is crucial for that. I want the “most recent” apps to instead be permanent shortcuts to apps that I choose, with maybe only one “most recent” app icon present but separated from them. I want to have the option to set the home button/multi-window button to always be one and not the other, and I’ll just know that I have to swipe to get to the other screen from there (either that or two separate dedicated buttons for home screen and multi-window view but that might take up too much space). And I don’t want the windows in the multi-window view to change automatically—I want to customize the multi windows to my choosing and have them be permanent. The exception being I want an audio media window to be whatever audio media app I used last, whether Apple Music or Spotify or Podcasts. I also want the multi windows to have more functionality built in—they’re too unnecessarily limited right now. I think it’s ok to fit more controls/info into them because if they’re there consistently, I’ll get very used to them—the key being consistency.

Of course, ideally, all cockpit controls and displays would be physical and dedicated, and then we wouldn’t need a rather dangerous and cumbersome touch screen with endless UI navigation, except maybe for the rarest of functions, or for videos or games when the car is in park.

 

[Veinticinco]

So, how far back will Audi add this? Hopefully to 2021 models.

Given Porsche was previously promoted in this “first adopter” slot, and is now nowhere to be seen, suggests VAG/Porsche Group are steering well clear (pun intended) of this integration.

This is a big gamble by Aston Martin, and that’s being generous. Current models are already depreciating faster than a McLaren, and beyond luxury finishes, buyers in this segment want to see exclusivity and innovation in engineering not software. They want a distinct brand experience, not a homogenised operating system that will be available in a Kia and Hyundai.

 

[Mega ST]

If I would buy an Aston Martin I'd expect traditional instruments with mechanical dials made of brass and chrome behind wooden panels. Not some VR fantasy.

 

[shenfrey]

too bad any car company that adopts this will die from Tesla basically owning the car market.

It’s scary because it’s true. Tesla’s are ludicrously popular.

 

[Veinticinco]

It’s scary because it’s true. Tesla’s are ludicrously popular.

I’m guessing you’re in the US. Thankfully, in rest of the world, that prediction above is so far from the truth to be laughable.

 

[Veinticinco]

Kind of what I expect. Oh well, all the more reason to upgrade. I just need to decide if I want a Q8, RS3, or SQ5

If those wildly different models are all in the mix, then having owned the first and last, trust me, you really want an RSQ8. It’s the Goldilocks choice, a perfect blend of everything you’ll ever need in a car.

Get one of the current facelifted generation before Audi bastardises and cheaps out the interior, like across their entire EV range.

As I said earlier, with Porsche noticeably disappearing from pole position in Apple’s delayed teasing of this CarPlay “Ultra” evolution (and the full scale adoption of new Android OS) it’s fairly safe to say we won’t be seeing it in any Audi, VW, Porsche or Lamborghini anytime before 2028 if ever. Which is a relief, if these awful renders are anything to go by.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

the million dollar question is are we talking model year 2026 for Hyundai, Kia, and genesis? Or longer?

Because I’m ready to buy if they drop the new 2026 palisade with CarPlay ultra.

 

[Sophytaylor6@]

I am glad to see such upgrades, but this might not be available for all the cars. As the market concerns the USA and Canada, there are fewer chances of people actually considering it good.

 

[macfacts]

Just in time for most drivers to realize they much prefer physical controls for almost all vehicle functions.

Chinese smartphone makers that also make EVs use two finger touch on the screens to adjust settings, two finger swipe up and down for volume, horizontal swipe for heat