It's Finally Here: Apple Rolls Out Its New CarPlay System

Aston Martin is the first brand to launch Apple’s new in-car experience. It takes over every screen in the car.

Aston Martin's Apple CarPlay Ultra

Photo by: Aston Martin

Anthony Alaniz

By: Anthony Alaniz

May 15, 2025 at 11:30am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

Apple’s all-encompassing version of CarPlay is finally here. Starting today, Aston Martin will begin offering CarPlay Ultra, which exports the Apple experience to every screen in the vehicle, including the instrument cluster.

All new vehicle orders from today for the DBX, Vantage, DB12, and Vanquish will get CarPlay Ultra as standard equipment. Existing cars with Aston’s latest-generation infotainment system— launched on the 2024 DB12—will get it within “the coming weeks” through the company’s dealer network.

Aston Martin's Apple CarPlay Ultra

Photos by: Aston Martin

Aston Martin's Apple CarPlay Ultra

Aston said it worked closely with Apple to create a system “consistent with the brand’s unique design philosophy and remains instantly recognizable as Aston Martin,” which you can judge.

There are several design options for the speedometer and tachometer. They integrate with full-screen maps and media in the instrument cluster for an immersive experience that keeps you within Apple’s ecosystem, which is really what we all want. Drivers can also select various cluster themes, colors, and wallpapers and fully customize the screen.

Ultra allows owners to place Apple widgets on either screen and provides access to managing vehicle functions like the radio and climate. However, there are redundant physical controls and override switches for vital operations like heating and cooling, gear selection, exhaust, chassis, and more. You can use the touchscreen, the physical controls, or Siri to control the vehicle.

Apple initially announced CarPlay Ultra in 2022, followed by a teaser two years later that promised the system would arrive in 2024. That didn’t happen, with Apple going quiet about the missed deadline earlier this year. It's possible the tech giant was busy helping to put the final touches on Aston’s “entirely bespoke” version of Ultra. Either way, it's finally here.

Aston Martin's Apple CarPlay Ultra

Photos by: Aston Martin

Aston Martin's Apple CarPlay Ultra

Aston was one of several brands Apple mentioned by name it was working with on CarPlay Ultra. Porsche was another, but not every automaker is eager to hand over the entire in-car experience to Apple.

General Motors is famously anti-CarPlay, dropping the feature from its vehicles, while Rivian was explicit about wanting to retain control of the vehicle’s digital ecosystems. But there are workarounds if you're stubborn. On the other end of the spectrum is Ferrari, which just gave up trying to create its own navigation system and admitted your smartphone was just better.

Aston Martin's Apple CarPlay Ultra

Photo by: Aston Martin

What do you think?

View

Comments

Aston is launching CarPlay in the United States and Canada first, rolling it out to all global markets within the year. You’ll need an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.54 or later to get CarPlay Ultra.

We’ll have to see if Porsche’s system comes to fruition and watch how other automakers react. If it’s good, and people want it, it could expand throughout the industry like the first iteration of CarPlay did, and become the preferred way people experience their cars.

Tech Time:

Apple CarPlay iOS 18: All the Updates You Should Care About

Rivian Has No Plans to Offer Apple CarPlay

Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily.

back

Subscribe For more info, read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.

Source: Aston Martin

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

12 Cars With Names That Make Absolutely No Sense

BMW Kept This Hatchback A Secret For Decades

Bugatti Restores One-Off Veyron With A Mirror-Like Aluminum Body

The Gas BMW M3 Isn't Dead: Next-Gen Prototype Roars