Apple CarPlay Ultra now available on select car models, promises deeper integration and numerous design adjustments
Apple has announced that CarPlay Ultra is now available, initially in new Aston Martin vehicles sold in the US and Canada. Existing Aston Martin vehicles with the latest infotainment hardware will receive CarPlay Ultra via a software update in the coming weeks. CarPlay Ultra is also expected to be available in Kia, Hyundai and Genesis vehicles later this year.
When the new version of CarPlay was announced in summer 2022, the list of partners also included auto manufacturers such as Audi, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar and Porsche. However, today's announcement omits any mention of these former partners, so it may take even longer for CarPlay Ultra to be available from these manufacturers. While regular CarPlay is primarily designed to display apps such as Apple Music and Google Maps on a vehicle's touchscreen, CarPlay Ultra provides much deeper vehicle integration.
First and foremost, CarPlay Ultra can be displayed not just on one screen, but on multiple screens, including on the display behind the steering wheel. To give car manufacturers control over the look, they can customize the user interface in a variety of ways, and users can also customize the look to their own preferences within the manufacturer's limitations.
CarPlay Ultra has access to a variety of car systems and can, for example, display the current speed and tire pressure, activate the rear-view camera or adjust the air conditioning. In addition to the car's touchscreen and voice control via Siri, CarPlay Ultra can also be controlled using the car's buttons.
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