Aston Martin first with Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay, a must-have in today’s cars, has been around since 2014, enabling iPhone owners to integrate their smartphone with the car’s infotainment system. Now the next generation of CarPlay is here and Aston Martin is the first manufacturer in the world to offer it.

Debut on DBX
CarPlay Ultra, as it is known, debuts on the DBX and is standard on all new cars delivered in North America. It will be available as an update in the coming weeks for existing core models featuring Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system.

More unified and consistent
“iPhone users love CarPlay and it has changed the way people interact with their vehicles. With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers we are reimagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s Vice-President of Worldwide Product Marketing.

“The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the automaker. We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come,” he said.

Extended to instrument cluster
CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalisation opportunities for Aston Martin owners. It extends to the instrument cluster, with a number of seamlessly designed options for the speedometer and tachometer dials drivers can choose from as well as the ability to display maps and media in full screen providing drivers a way to curate their own multi-screen set-up, and the freedom to modify the layout.

Aston Martin has worked closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with the brand’s unique design philosophy and remains instantly recognisable as Aston Martin. Drivers can choose from a number of different instrument cluster themes, whilst also being able to tailor the colours and wallpapers to match their individual tastes.

In addition, drivers can manage vehicle functions like radio and climate right from within CarPlay Ultra with touchscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri. Drivers can also add widgets powered by iPhone that perfectly fit the infotainment screen or instrument cluster to provide information at a glance.

Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system first appeared in 2023 with the DB12. Entirely bespoke, the system is Aston Martin’s first in-house development and as such, has allowed the brand to work directly with Apple to flawlessly integrate CarPlay Ultra.

Touch and physical switches
The new system provides full online connectivity and is displayed using Pure Black touchscreen technology with full capacitive single and multi-finger gesture control. Understanding the need for balance between touchscreen commands and the positive tactility of physical switches, buttons are retained for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation. There are also override switches for Chassis, ESP and Exhaust, Lane Assist and Park Distance Control, ensuring the most used controls are always conveniently to hand.

“The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the automaker. We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come,” said Apple’s Borchers.

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