The next era of dashboard dominance starts now—with iOS at the wheel
Apple has officially pulled the curtain back on CarPlay Ultra, the next-gen evolution of its in-car infotainment system—and it’s making its world debut in none other than Aston Martin’s latest models. Starting today, new vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada will come equipped with CarPlay Ultra, while current Aston Martin drivers with the brand’s newest infotainment system can expect an over-the-air update in the coming weeks.
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This marks a bold leap for both the luxury auto and tech sectors, fusing Apple’s intuitive design and ecosystem with one of the most storied automotive brands on the planet. And this is only the beginning—Apple has confirmed other global automakers like Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are next in line to roll out CarPlay Ultra.
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What is CarPlay Ultra?
Let’s call it what it is: CarPlay, but supercharged. The interface now fully takes over all of the vehicle’s digital real estate—including the instrument cluster, central infotainment screen, and heads-up displays—with a seamless blend of iPhone functionality and native car controls. This isn’t just a projection screen; it’s full integration.
Expect to see:
- A customizable digital dashboard with Apple-designed speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature gauges.
- Real-time driving data like tire pressure, ADAS notifications, and climate control—all natively embedded.
- Maps, media, messages, and Siri functionality, unified with physical buttons or touchscreen gestures.
- New CarPlay widgets—mini displays powered by iPhone, tailored to the vehicle’s screen layout.
Think of it as turning your Aston Martin into a finely tailored suit—lined with iOS silk.
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The Aston Advantage
For a brand steeped in elegance and high performance, Aston Martin wasn’t just Apple’s first partner by accident. CarPlay Ultra’s interface isn’t one-size-fits-all; instead, each automaker collaborates with Apple’s design team to customize the look and feel of their system.
In Aston’s case, the visual result is a stunning hybrid of sleek, British design with Apple’s trademark fluidity. Expect themes with razor-sharp instrument cluster animations, curated colour palettes, and visualizations that feel like they belong on the track—or in a Bond film.
“This is more than a software upgrade,” said Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin. “It’s a strategic partnership between two luxury icons.”
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Designed for Drivers. Built for iPhone.
Beyond the glamour, CarPlay Ultra is functional by design. Whether it’s adjusting the heated seats with Siri, changing drive modes through CarPlay, or using a glanceable widget to check your ETA mid-drive—everything is faster, smarter, and less distracting.
CarPlay Ultra is only compatible with iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or newer, giving drivers access to the latest privacy controls and Apple’s trademark encryption protocols.
Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Marketing, Bob Borchers, sums it up best:
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“This next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, while deeply integrating with the car’s systems and showcasing the unique look and feel of each automaker.”
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Availability and What’s Next
- Live now: Available in new Aston Martin orders in the U.S. and Canada
- Coming soon: Over-the-air updates for existing Aston Martin vehicles with the brand’s newest infotainment system
- Global rollout: More automakers, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, to launch CarPlay Ultra within the next year
Whether you’re in the driver’s seat of an Aston Martin or just daydreaming about the road ahead, one thing’s clear: the future of the cockpit looks a lot more like your iPhone—and a lot less like yesterday.
Gentlemen, start your iPhones.
