Aston Martin has become the first car manufacturer in the world to offer a deeper integration of Apple CarPlay into his vehicle’s infotainment system with the debut of the new Apple CarPlay Ultra.
After being developing for a number of years, both Porsche and Aston Martin revealed in 2023 that they would be among the first to offer Apple’s latest infotainment deals, but the British sports car manufacturer has turned all other producers into it.
Apple CarPlay Ultra is based on the existing CarPlay platform by taking over both Infotainment Head Unit and the vehicle’s digital instrument cluster for the first time.
The new CarPlay will originally be limited to the new Aston Martin DBX on models ordered in North America and Canada, but will be coming to other Aston cars and regions over the next 12 months. Apple also says it works with Hyundai, Kia and Genesis to bring CarPlay Ultra to several models.
Want to know what all the excitement is all about? Here are four things you need to know, plus a gallery with pictures to show what CarPlay Ultra looks like in Aston Martin’s latest drive …
1. It offers a more personal experience
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Now drivers can choose from a number of Aston Martin-designed digital settings for the speedometer and tachometer watches, while the ability to switch between live cards from a preferred navigation provider as well as media applications gives owners a way to “curate their own multi-screen setup”, according to James Bond’s favorite brand.
In addition, the British selection has also provided a variety of instrument clusters as well as the ability to tailor backgrounds, color schedules and the general look to their personal taste.
The key to doing the binding work was to ensure that Aston Martin had full control over design, with Apple claiming CarPlay Ultra, allows car manufacturers to “express their different design philosophy with the look and feel that their customers are expecting”.
2. It offers all one place
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One of the biggest bugs about the current CarPlay environment is that users often have to leave it to interact with key vehicle functionality, such as changing driving methods or adjusting climate control, for example.
Apple CarPlay Ultra predicts this kind of behavior to the naughty step and eventually allows drivers to finish the radio station, adjust the climate control or shoot up the heated seats in ultra -interface via touch screen control, physical buttons or using Siri voice commands.
Even better, the British Marque talks about “Punch-Through UI”, which essentially means it has been able to bring very vehicle-specific menus and settings in the CarPlay environment for the first time.
So if you do not want to adjust the balance and father of the Black Bowers & Wilkins, it is possible to do so through a particular menu screen placed in the CarPlay Ultra environment.
3. It has a very customizable cluster with more info
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Aston says customers can also choose from a number of widgets that can stay on either 10.25-inch infotainment screen or on the digital driver display for a very customizable cluster. This may include items such as tire pressure monitoring, weather forecasts or advanced driver aid systems.
Although not explicitly mentioned by Aston Martin or Apple, it is understood that owners originally have to pair an iPhone 12 or newer (running iOS 18.54 and later) either by connecting it or choosing the wireless option.
The system automatically recognizes the handset and driver every time they enter the vehicle, even goes to the far as well as knowing the region from which they are, and adjusting the units of measurement accordingly.
Of course, it opens up easy access to things like E -Mail, WhatsApp messages and the ability to jump on zoom calls, all without having to juggle interfaces.
4. It comes to other car brands
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Unfortunately, Android users will not be able to enjoy a similar kind of Android car experience in the car as this is a particular Apple bonding.
Instead, Aston Martin delivers physical buttons and switches most of its functionality and explains that its next generation infotainment system debuted on the brand new DB12 in 2023 is perfectly a perfectly decent digital offer as it is.
CarPlay Ultra is also currently limited to the new Aston Martin DBX, and only the models ordered in North America and Canada for now. Although it will be rolled out to other Aston models and markets for the next 12 months.
In addition, Apple said it is working with a number of carmakers to bring CarPlay Ultra into a number of new models soon, including those from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis.
Aston Martin’s 10.25-inch pure black touch screen technology is relatively modest compared to many rivals, so it will be interesting to see what other manufacturers can do with bigger and more impressive screen arrays.
Apple arcade while you wait to charge, someone?
