Apple’s ‘next-Gen’ CarPlay Is Finally Here (in a Limited Capacity)
Three years ago, at WWDC 2022 , Apple showed off its vision for the next generation of CarPlay . The preview showcased the car with huge panoramic displays, customizable widgets, a futuristic user interface and car controls built into CarPlay. Honestly, it just looked cool.
But CarPlay hasn’t changed much since then, except for more cars offering wireless CarPlay than before. I almost forgot about the promised upgrades, especially since my car doesn’t have an infotainment display at all.
But Apple surprised us this morning with its latest press release : this radical change to CarPlay, now called CarPlay Ultra, is finally rolling out today —but only to a very limited audience.
Aston Martin or bust
CarPlay Ultra will be available in new Aston Martin cars today, and will be available in the coming weeks on existing models equipped with the “next-generation infotainment system” via a software update.
It’s a big bummer for any of us who don’t have the right Aston Martin. But on the bright side, Apple says Hyundai, Kia and Genesis have chosen CarPlay Ultra and will also bring the feature to their cars. There’s no time frame for when this will happen, but hey, it’s better than nothing.
CarPlay Ultra vs CarPlay
The key feature that sets CarPlay Ultra apart from CarPlay is its integration with all of your car’s screens. Many cars these days have multiple displays, including one behind the steering wheel. Typically, only the designated display, or part of that designated display, is dedicated to CarPlay. But with CarPlay Ultra, all screens work honestly.
This way you can place CarPlay Ultra elements on the display behind the steering wheel. This may come in the form of a speedometer, tachometer, and a tool of your choice, including the Driving Assistance window, Apple Music, Maps, or tire pressure. Personally, I would find it quite useful to have my directions displayed front and center behind the wheel, so every time I check my speed I get a warning of my next turn.
When CarPlay Ultra is fully launched, it won’t necessarily look the same across different cars. This is for two key reasons: First, Apple allows automakers to customize the interface to “express their distinct design philosophy with the look and feel their customers expect.” On the other hand, you, the driver, can also customize the look of CarPlay Ultra by customizing the colors, wallpapers, and “instrument cluster” themes.
We’ll definitely see more about this feature from Apple once it starts rolling out in full. But if you want to get an idea of what to expect, check out this initial press release. There’s a short simulation of an Aston Martin interior; it displays a driver screen with an active speedometer, tachometer and Apple Music widget, and the main display shows an active view of Apple Maps. To the right of it, you can see a smaller Apple Maps widget showing the next turn, a small Apple Music widget with playback controls, and a small Calendar widget showing the driver’s next appointment.