“Does she have carplay?” It is one of the first questions for anyone – the driver, passengers or buyer – about a new car. The frustrating lists, the facades of family users, and the general experience in general surrounding modern entertainment systems, have pushed the majority of people Apple CarPlay (Or Android Auto, the original equivalent of Google), which effectively reflects your phone on the information and entertainment screen.
Since the introduction of CarPlay in 2014, it was almost exclusive to the center’s show. Now, with the arrival of CarPlay Ultra, the Gauge group and the driving panel are completely turned into an iPhone that determines Apple. But of course, it is not without controversy.
Photo: Chris Rosalis / Motor 1
Fourteen car manufacturers company originally signed CarPlay Ultra when Apple announced in 2022. But some, such as Audi, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz, have since they have since they have since then. I retracted the dealWhile General Motors continues to attack CarPlay in full. Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Aston Martin are still welcoming new technology.
On the surface, it is a discussion between the popularity of CarPlay and the ability of the auto industry tightly controlling the user experience. Under many Consumer layers, auto manufacturers are concerned about delivering user data to Apple – Data that automobile companies find of great value.
If they do not sell your data to insurance companies, they sell it to advertisers or compounds looking for valuable details about consumer customs. Cling Apple in this data is not something that automobile companies will do easily.
In the case of Aston Martin, I realized the popularity of CarPlay and made the decision to “its customers). As a small luxury car maker, Aston will lose if it does not happen with times. For big brands, this is not a big problem.
However, I got carplay samples, stress test for a few hours in 2025 DBX and ASTON lightly on how to merge Ultra into current systems.
First and most importantly, CarPlay Ultra only works with iPhone 12 or the latest iOS 18.5. When calling, the phone downloads 50MB of data to the car, which is a folder full of graphics assets for each vehicle. Ultra works alongside the information and entertainment system in the auto industry company as a kind of additional component program, and communicates with the systems on board to obtain advanced driver assistance, air conditioning, radio and driving drive conditions so that most jobs can be controlled through CarPlay.
CarPlay Ultra does not interact deeply with the vehicle network. Instead, the systems on the plane provide relevant information to CarPlay and nothing more, at least, according to Aston Martin. In NERD SPEAK, CarPlay does not continue even on the DBX control area bus (Can Bus).
Effectively, they are Apple and UI graphics on Aston systems. It is operated as a small operating system inside DBX, but it is not a completely new entertainment system, and still operates as a phone drop.
Photo: Chris Rosalis / Motor 1
Effectively, they are Apple and UI graphics on Aston systems.
It is strange that Aston had no license fees either. All automobile companies had to do the costs of integration, and Apple simply provided support. As Aston tells it, the integration was relatively painful, as Apple listens to the reactions from Aston and vice versa. But the customers warned: As the old proverb says, “If the product is free, then you are the product.”
However, the user interface is the classic Apple: easy and intuitive. It was easy to find all the main functions in the new “vehicle” menu, with specific payment notifications while using material controls. For example, clicking the Adas Off on the Central Control Unit has caused CarPlay notification that confirms the abolition of the system.
Driving mode options were shown when switching from sport to sports+, and a specific engine mode settings were deeper into CarPlay, which allows adjustments to things like dampens, guidance, and engine adjustment, among other things.
It was the controversial piece, the scale set, also highlighting. Slicker ran from Aston’s original objects, although this is more than Aston’s case of improvement in CarPlay.
Photo: Chris Rosalis / Motor 1
Photo: Chris Rosalis / Motor 1
The ability to allocate colors and backgrounds on a variety of layouts was beautiful, and the collaborative scale group was for a brittle Aston, with the presence of the camels between the speed and the rotation of the rotational speed. The Apple Maps is also dropped a full screen in the Gauge collection with a rotation.
Everything cannot be denied, but it is very good to look at use and use.
There were a few warnings. Ultra is just wireless, which is difficult enough for standard operation at times. Using Aston’s Sond iPhone 15, it was running smoothly for two hours you tested. However, its use with iPhone 13 Pro Max Running IOS 18.5 was late and slow. I tried to use it for 15 minutes, but it has never been facilitated, so it returned to iPhone 15. However, it is still in the early stages, so there may be some errors that need ironing, and there is a new switching list to select smoothly between the paired phones.
However, CarPlay Ultra is here – which is very good. While DBX loses a little Aston Martin magic, it still has a reasonable amount of brand identity under the apple attack. But even the new Aston information and entertainment system, because it is good as it is, benefits from the improvements and additional use. This makes CarPlay Ultra an easy victory.
But what happens as soon as Ultra rises against Hyundai and Porsche systems? With Ultra car manufacturers starting and withdrawing their feet to integration, we will have to wait and see.
