Apple CarPlay Ultra: we try out the next generation of in-car smartphone mirroring

According to Apple, CarPlay is used more than 600 million times per day. It’s no surprise then that the tech giant would want to keep evolving its in-car software, and Apple CarPlay Ultra comes as a giant leap in terms of scope and functionality.

Set to arrive later this year, CarPlay Ultra will, at first, only be available on Aston Martin products. However, more manufacturers have signed up and will bring it to their cars in the near future. 

Before the new system’s release to the public, we’ve taken a deep dive to uncover what you can expect from this next generation of in-car smartphone mirroring. 

Digital dials

The headline feature of CarPlay Ultra is undoubtedly how the software now extends into the car’s instrument cluster, creating a more seamless feel and providing essential information right in your eyeline.

There are six different layouts to choose from, ranging from a full-screen display for music or sat-nav maps, to minimalist line gauges, reminiscent of the Modular face on the Apple Watch. 

The stand-out configuration is almost certainly the one designed by Aston Martin itself; this is dressed in British Racing Green and enhanced by small flourishes such as the ‘Made in Great Britain’ script on the speedometer.

Users can easily swipe on the steering wheel controls to configure the centre widget to once again show things like music, sat-nav maps and car information. While this is the only Aston-specific gauge at the moment, the firm hinted that there is scope to add more in the future.

What’s mentioned above is the only customisation possible on Aston’s own set of CarPlay dials; Apple’s own gauges can be tweaked to your preference, however, with different colours and backgrounds all via the main touchscreen. Speaking of which…

Main screen

The focus of the Ultra additions to the main screen isn’t to completely change the look of the CarPlay experience, but to add more functionality without having to duck out into the car’s own infotainment software.

With this in mind, users will find that Ultra features three new icons on the home screen: Radio, Climate and Car. The first two are self-explanatory; you can now adjust the car’s radio and climate settings (including things like turning on heated seats and windscreen demisters) all within the slick and easy-to-use boundaries of CarPlay itself.

More interesting, however, is the new Car app, which houses almost all of the settings you may want to adjust on the fly, all accessed via Apple’s beautifully simple user interface. For example, you can change and configure drive modes, as well as turn off driver-assistance functions; pressing a physical button on the centre console to turn off ADAS systems also responds within the CarPlay interface, keeping the whole experience feeling seamless.

That said, several functions, such as adjusting the ambient lighting, require Aston’s own infotainment software. Thankfully, Apple has engineered a clever solution, which essentially punches through the main screen to Aston’s operating system, allowing you to adjust things but maintaining CarPlay’s own menu bars along the side. This makes switching out easier and ensures the experience doesn’t feel at all jilted.

Swipe right on the main screen and this will now also bring you to a set of widgets like those on the iPhone when in Dock mode. Users can flick between different widgets for things like the time, calendar, to-do lists and other handy info that can be viewed at a glance.

What cars are getting Apple CarPlay Ultra?

So far, Aston Martin is the only car manufacturer to offer CarPlay Ultra; new orders of the DBX 707, DB12 and Vanquish will all come with the necessary firmware in preparation, while older cars with Aston’s latest infotainment system can be retrofitted with this for what sources refer to as “a small additional cost”.

Don’t fret if you’re not able to splash a six-figure sum on a new car, though; Apple has confirmed Kia, Hyundai and Genesis are set to receive CarPlay Ultra capability in the near future, with the likes of Audi, BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Mercedes, Porsche and Volvo having also previously pledged their support for the program.

How to set up Apple CarPlay Ultra

Setting up CarPlay Ultra is just as simple (or difficult, depending on who you ask) as standard CarPlay. Connect your phone via Bluetooth or cable to the car and follow the on-screen instructions to pair the two.

Then your iPhone will proceed to download roughly 50MB of software data to the car’s infotainment system, which may take a few minutes. After this point, CarPlay Ultra will immediately launch and will continue to do so automatically each time you enter the car, provided your phone connects successfully. You can also turn the Ultra system off and switch to traditional CarPlay, if you’d rather use your car’s own dials/controls.

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