Apple is now rolling out CarPlay Ultra, its next-generation CarPlay feature for using the iPhone in the car, which was delayed several times.
CarPlay Ultra isn’t a CarPlay replacement. Rather, it’s a premium experience that exists alongside the existing CarPlay, which is widely supported across many automotive brands and vehicle models. Also, CarPlay Ultra requires the iPhone 12 (2020) or later running iOS 18.5 or later, whereas the regular CarPlay works on any iPhone model from the iPhone 5 onwards.
Contrast this with CarPlay Ultra, which is initially available for Aston Martin’s core model lineup in the United States and Canada, but will expand to other brands. To see CarPlay Ultra in action, watch hands-on videos by Aston Martin and Top Gear.
Apple unveils CarPlay Ultra
The announcement confirms that CarPlay Ultra will expand to Aston Martin’s vehicles globally in the next 12 months. Apple showed off the next generation of CarPlay back in 2022, but admitted at the start of 2025 that the feature would be arriving late.
Unlike regular CarPlay, its Ultra version supports much deeper integration with in-car systems and brand customizations that allow carmakers to customize the feature in a way that matches their own look and feel using custom themes co-developed by Apple and the automaker’s design team. Drivers can customize CarPlay Ultra with the colors and wallpapers.
CarPlay Ultra can use multiple in-car screens and display iPhone widgets that you can move around. The gauges in the instrument cluster include options like the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge and more. With widgets, drivers can display information from apps on their iPhone, including maps and media.
Thanks to deep integration, CarPlay Ultra can display useful information that comes right from the car, including tire pressure and advanced driver assistance.
“Drivers can also use onscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri to manage both standard vehicle functions like the car’s radio and climate, as well as advanced, vehicle-specific features and controls like audio system configurations or performance settings, right from CarPlay, giving them a more fluid and seamless experience,” writes Apple.
Pricing and availability
CarPlay Ultra works with the iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later, and doesn’t require a subscription to use. The feature is available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the United States and Canada starting today.
CarPlay will expand to existing models equipped with Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system by way of a software update that will be available at local dealers in the coming weeks. Apple says other brands have committed to bringing CarPlay Ultra to their customers, including Hyundai, Kia and Genesis.
Apple’s WWDC 2022 announcement mentioned the following brands had pledged to support next-generation CarPlay: Acura, Audio, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault and Volvo.