Latest news with #CarPlay2
Tom's Guide
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Tom's Guide
Apple CarPlay Ultra stalled — these brands now say they're out
Apple finally revealed CarPlay 2, as CarPlay Ultra, in May. Initially, it was supposed to be on Aston Martin, Kia, and Hyundai vehicles. However, a new (paywalled) Financial Times report (via MacRumors) claims that a number of major manufacturers are backing away from commitments to support the next generation of the CarPlay software system. Manufacturers retreating include Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Renault and Volvo. The major overhaul was announced at WWDC 2022 and showed up again in 2023 with previews on Aston Martin and Porsche dashboards. When it was initially revealed, at least 14 automakers were listed as future supporters. Compared to the current CarPlay interface, Ultra is meant to replace the entire dashboard. Not only will you see traditional iPhone apps, but also vehicle information like speed, fuel levels and temperature. Apple has called it "a unified and consistent experience across all the driver's screens." Apparently, the luxury automakers are concerned about maintaining their own software and in-car experiences. From the FT report: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Additionally, Ford, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover still seem to be on board but wouldn't really comment to Financial Times. Apparently, BMW will implement CarPlay but not the new CarPlay Ultra. Audi seems like it will follow the BMW model, saying it wants to offer a "customized and seamless digital experience." Aston Martin already offers CarPlay Ultra. According to FT, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are still committed partners with Porsche planning future support. Despite the setback, Apple apparently told Financial Times that more manufacturers are coming on board. "We're collaborating closely with automakers to provide the best of iPhone and the best of the car and this work takes time," Apple said. When any vehicles with CarPlay Ultra will actually be available has not been announced.
Tom's Guide
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Tom's Guide
Apple CarPlay Ultra just announced — here's all the new features
Apple has finally started rolling out CarPlay 2. However, the company calls its updated infotainment system CarPlay Ultra. The new CarPlay Ultra is starting with Aston Marin but there's other brands on board, such as Kia and Hyundai. CarPlay Ultra is integrated deeply into the car, including instrument clusters, and gives you control over everything from the climate system to the radio. "Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada, and will be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation infotainment system through a software update in the coming weeks," said Apple in a press release. Unlike the current version of CarPlay, the new one is integrated deeply into the car, which Apple says allows it to "deliver the best of iPhone and the best of the car." That means it's not as simple as just putting out a software update to bring CarPlay Ultra to existing vehicles, and it'll be limited to new cars that add the feature. So far, Apple says, "Many other automakers around the world are working to bring CarPlay Ultra to drivers, including newly committed brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis." Here's all the new stuff coming to Apple CarPlay Ultra. The biggest thing that changes with CarPlay Ultra compared to the current Apple CarPlay is that it integrates into more systems within the vehicle. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. With it, you can use onscreen controls, buttons and Siri to control car functions like radio and climate (which would previously have been done outside of CarPlay through the car's built-in operating system). Additionally, CarPlay Ultra integrates into the instrument cluster. Apple says it offers "dynamic and beautiful options for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and more, bringing a consistent look and feel to the entire driving experience." Things like maps and media can show right in the cluster, which could help drivers keep focus on the road and not their infotainment system. Unlike CarPlay as we know it now, the Ultra will let automakers customize the look and feel to match their design aesthetic. Otherwise, you can still use your iPhone apps in CarPlay Ultra to play your favorite music and podcasts, get navigation, and so on. The features available haven't changed much, but how it integrates with the car is a big difference that should bring us closer to the Apple Car we never received.
WIRED
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- WIRED
Apple CarPlay 2 Finally Lands As ‘CarPlay Ultra'—But Aston Martin Gets It First
Apple's next-gen in-car tech has missed two launch promises and taken nearly three years to appear. Now it's mere weeks away from running your ride. Three years after it was first announced, and following two missed launch promises, with no comment from Apple on when it would actually show up, CarPlay 2 will finally be available in a matter of weeks. And now, it's called CarPlay Ultra. Aston Martin has announced it will be the first car manufacturer to actually deliver Apple's long-awaited next-gen in-car experience, with any of its vehicles ordered in the US and Canada from today shipping with CarPlay Ultra installed as standard. Current Aston owners will also be able to get the Ultra update from their dealerships in June, however the car must be running the marque's most recent infotainment system to make the switch, which launched back in 2023. Owners will also need an iPhone 12 or later, running iOS 18.54 and later. The first look at Apple CarPlay Ultra in the driving seat in Aston's DBX. Current cars that meet this criteria include the Aston Martin DBX SUV, alongside its core sportscar models—Vanquish, Vantage, and DB12. This update will also be for US and Canadian owners only for now, but a full market rollout is expected over the next 12 months. As we saw when it was teased at WWDC in 2022, CarPlay Ultra will see Apple's ecosystem extend from the main infotainment screen to the instrument cluster, merging with the automaker's design language for a more consistent look and feel across the board. Drivers can finally have their iPhone nav directions appear in front of them as the new CarPlay interface stretches across multiple screens. Photograph: Aston Martin It means that along with core car features such as Aston Martin's on-screen speedometer and tachometer dials, you can also have your Apple Music playlist or Google Maps directions in front of you as you drive. Things like tire pressure monitors and air-con controls will also at last be able to sit within the CarPlay interface. This is all supposedly fully customizable though, from the instrument cluster theme down to the color scheme, offering both car brands and drivers the ability to build and curate their own multi-screen setup for the things that matter most to them while driving. The new software displays speed, gear selection, rpm, tire pressures, and more on the driver screen. Photograph: Apple Of course, if you prefer physical buttons, they're still available for functions provided the car in question has them already, of course. Siri will again be on hand when you prefer to bark commands at a voice assistant. However, how next-generation Siri will precisely work in CarPlay Ultra, as Apple's AI tech develops, remains unclear—but from launch, essentially, the tech mirrors the phone experience. That means if you have ChatGPT-powered Apple Intelligence enabled on your iPhone, the in-car UI will ask for a voice command to shunt a query to Open AI's model or stick with on-device Siri. Conversely, in what could be seen as unfortunate timing for Apple, Google beat the news of CarPlay Ultra to the punch, with the announcement of Gemini for cars just a few days ago—and we've already got more detail on how Gemini will enhance the driving experience than we have on Siri at this point. This includes helping you craft text messages on the go, find good restaurants en route, and even help you brainstorm on the way to a meeting. Gemini will roll out to Android Auto cars over the next few months, likely appearing in myriad car brands well before CarPlay Ultra. Core car controls now sit within the CarPlay Ultra experience, such as the car's HVAC system. Photograph: Apple As for CarPlay Ultra, it had been confirmed a while ago that Aston Martin would be one of the first manufacturers to feature Apple's next-gen experience, with Porsche expected to follow next. Audi, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, are also thought to be on board to take the tech. However, Mercedes-Benz has remarked that handing over control of its cockpit head unit to someone else 'was a no.' As CarPlay fans await confirmation from more manufacturers as to roll out dates for Ultra in their vehicles—not to mention finally getting to see it in action—it'll be interesting to see if Mercedes-Benz bows to consumer pressure and becomes one of them.
