Apple has introduced CarPlay Ultra, the new generation of its in-car infotainment system.
Debuting in the Aston Martin DBX, CarPlay Ultra promises to give drivers a much deeper integration between their iPhone and their car's systems, improving the driver experience. It's a long way from a simple Bluetooth connection...
The capabilities of the original Apple CarPlay system have been expanded considerably in CarPlay Ultra, with more comprehensive integration with the car's hardware and software.
Where earlier incarnations focused purely on a car's central infotainment screen, CarPlay Ultra encompasses the whole dashboard, including the instrument cluster. It also communicates with the car's own systems, letting it display real-time vehicle data like speed, fuel levels, and engine temperature, as well as the now-traditional CarPlay features like navigation and media controls.
Apple CarPlay Ultra is so far only available in new Aston Martin models in the US and Canada, including the DBX, the Vantage, the DB12 and the Vanquish. But we can expect to see the system rolled out in other cars very soon. Other confirmed brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
Apple has been working closely with carmakers to make sure that CarPlay Ultra reflects each brand's specific vibe and design philosophy, balancing the uniformity of the Apple ecosystem with that of the host vehicle.
Apple CarPlay Ultra: key features and upgrades
Apple CarPlay Ultra has numerous new features above the old system. It can now use every screen within a car, giving a unified interface with both iPhone content and vehicle information – previously all the information shown through CarPlay came only from the phone.
Digital instrument panels are now the norm across most new cars, and CarPlay Ultra will let users personlise the layout of their instrument cluster, choosing what information is displayed and how it's presented. The system also gives users control over various vehicle functions, including the air-con, radio, and performance modes, directly through the CarPlay interface or through Siri commands.
The system now also allows various widgets for iPhone apps like Calendar, Weather and Reminders to be displayed on the car's screen for quick access to information.
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