Apple CarPlay Ultra: Here’s everything you need to know

CarPlay Ultra is Apple's most advanced in-car experience to date!

Vidita Chandra 16 May 2025 09:07 PM

Apple has taken the wraps off CarPlay Ultra—a new version of its in-car experience that’s expected to please both petrolheads and iPhone fans. Apple says CarPlay Ultra is designed to blend the best of both worlds, and it goes beyond the basics, offering a deeper integration between your iPhone and your vehicle.

CarPlay Ultra is rolling out first in new Aston Martin models and will also be making its way to compatible existing cars via a software update in the coming weeks. Here are the key features of Apple CarPlay Ultra. 

ALSO SEE: Apple CarPlay Ultra takes over Aston Martin’s instrument cluster

Smarter integration

CarPlay Ultra is about blending your iPhone and your car into one smooth experience. It stretches across every screen in the vehicle—even the instrument cluster—bringing iPhone features right into the heart of the dashboard. From dynamic gauge displays to real-time updates and customisable widgets, everything feels fully integrated and ready at a glance. It also mirrors the carmaker’s design language while still giving drivers room to personalise the layout and features.

Intuitive control, your way

Whether you prefer touch controls, physical knobs, or simply asking Siri, CarPlay Ultra gives you options. You can manage everything from media playback and climate settings to audio profiles and even performance tweaks, all within the CarPlay interface. And, if personalisation is your thing, you can set custom wallpapers, tweak colour themes, and still keep an eye on important data like tyre pressure, temperature, or driver assistance features—all without leaving the CarPlay ecosystem.

Tailored for brands

One of the standout touches with CarPlay Ultra is its collaborative design approach. Apple works directly with each carmaker to craft a custom look and feel that matches the brand’s identity—right down to the fonts and gauge layouts. The result, Apple says, is a digital interface that feels like a natural extension of the vehicle, not just an iPhone screen on wheels.

Availability and requirements

To use CarPlay Ultra, you’ll need an iPhone 12 or newer running iOS 18.5 or later. The rollout kicks off in North America, but Apple says a wider global launch is on the horizon within the next year. Brands like Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are already gearing up to bring the system to their upcoming models.