Apple CarPlay Ultra, the next-generation system supporting iPhone 12 or later models running iOS 18.54 and later, will debut globally with Aston Martin. It will initially appear on the DBX and core sports car models like the Vantage, DB12, and Vanquish.
According to Apple’s press materials, the tech giant stated that CarPlay Ultra will gradually roll out to other carmakers globally, including Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis.
The rollout will begin as a standard feature on new Aston Martins in the US and Canada from 15 May 2025, with a global expansion planned within the next 12 months.
Existing Aston Martin models equipped with the company’s in-house developed next-generation infotainment system, which debuted in 2023 on the Aston Martin DB12, will receive Apple CarPlay Ultra via an update through the Aston Martin dealer network in the coming weeks.
Building on the existing Apple CarPlay, CarPlay Ultra integrates with Aston Martin’s infotainment system, with Gaydon working closely with Apple to ensure the interface aligns with the company’s design philosophy.
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Apple indicates that CarPlay Ultra allows carmakers to express their distinct design philosophy with the look and feel their customers expect, suggesting that the system’s appearance and user experience will be unique to each brand.
Apple CarPlay Ultra will also extend to the digital instrument cluster to allow users to customise their speedometer and tachometer dials with various designs, themes, colours, and wallpapers.
The system also allows the integration of iPhone-powered widgets that seamlessly fit Aston Martin’s 10.25-inch infotainment display or the digital gauge cluster. It provides instant information and includes full-screen display options for maps and media, with drivers able to create their own preferred layout across multiple screens.
With the introduction of Apple CarPlay Ultra, the system joins Google’s Android Automotive OS which provides smartphone-like functions and features on a car’s infotainment displays.
It remains to be seen how Apple CarPlay Ultra will integrate with vehicles already featuring infotainment systems powered by Google’s Android Automotive OS, such as those found in Porsche and Volvo models.
While standard Apple CarPlay is often offered alongside Android Auto, the integration of CarPlay Ultra might present a different scenario. Will these brands adopt Apple’s new system in addition to their existing Android Automotive-based setups, or might it require a more significant shift in their infotainment architecture?
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