- Apple CarPlay Ultra takes the tech giant’s presence beyond the infotainment system in next-gen cars.
- Designed in collaboration with automakers, the interface now entails all in-car screens and functions (including the speedometer and climate controls).
- Apple CarPlay Ultra will debut in the US and Canada with new Aston Martins ordered from May 15th, 2025; additional marques and international markets over the next 12 months.
Not content with commandeering infotainment systems alone, Apple’s all-new CarPlay Ultra is hitting the road (after missing the initial deadline by five months) to extend its reach in car cabins.
Make no mistake, this isn’t just a visual refresh. From instrument clusters to air conditioning and the speedometer, it’s a reimagining of your car’s interface with integrated skins across every screen, alongside highly customisable widgets and wallpapers. That is, provided you also have an iPhone 12 or are running the latest iOS 18.5.
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Tailored to each manufacturer, with a design language that’s equal parts Apple and the auto brand in question, drivers will be able to toggle between multiple instrument themes (i.e. classic or Apple minimalist), with all the necessary details such as speed, lights, safety, and more in full view.
Several functions once reserved for the native infotainment system, like the radio and climate controls, are now accessible via the updated CarPlay. Though it’s worth noting the physical buttons still work like they’re supposed to – the only difference now is an Apple-style prompt on the display.
It’s polished, cohesive, solely wireless, flexes a whole lot of software muscle, and unmistakably Apple. It’s also a small glimpse of what could’ve been with the since-cancelled “Project Titan” autonomous electric vehicle.
As mentioned earlier, the first proverbial rank off the equally proverbial rank is the 2025 Aston Martin DBX707 (and any new Aston Martin ordered from May 15th), showcasing what Apple’s been quietly cooking since that WWDC reveal back in 2022.
Existing Aston Martin models will also be able to support Apple CarPlay Ultra through a forthcoming software update. Of course, this is just the beginning…
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We have solid confirmation it’ll eventually find its way into other vehicles from the likes of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis (updates planned for compatible existing models as well); with suggestions that automakers from Nissan, Renault, and Volvo, to Honda, Polestar, Land Rover, plus Porsche can soon expect the Cupertino touch.
According to Drive, Apple CarPlay Ultra is due to launch in Australia within the next 12 months.
