Hands-on Test: Apple CarPlay Ultra Debuts on Aston Martin Cars
We’ve taken the DBX707 with a new iOS integration for a multi-spin screen
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Hands-on Test: Apple CarPlay Ultra Debuts on Aston Martin Cars
We’ve taken the DBX707 with a new iOS integration for a multi-spin screen
In a Cinderella story of technological lag followed by total redemption, Aston Martin has stepped out of the infotainment industry and released the biggest update to Apple CarPlay since the film was first presented as a concept at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show. In 2014, we called CarPlay “… a sea change in the way we see in-car operating systems;” almost ten years later we previewed the much-anticipated next-generation integration that was just officially launched as Apple CarPlay Ultra.
We got our hands on a complete reboot and redesign that uses every screen in the car—in the Aston’s case, both the 10.3-inch central touchscreen and the 12.3-inch driver information screen. Apple calls it “deep integration;” after a product launch and time and system during a drive through the desert golf town of Rancho Mirage, we’re calling it a long overdue handshake between the consumer electronics giant and the often slow-to-acclimate automotive space.
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Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple -
Courtesy of Apple
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this partnership signals the future of in-car infotainment, marking a significant shift from the days when Apple and automakers locked down their operating systems. The multi-screen setup not only brings car features such as instrument cluster and main menu items under Apple iOS control, it enables a choice of six display styles that can be individually tailored to a menu of selectable two-tone color palettes. Want to view Apple-style “difficulties” that provide simple interpretation of speed, engine temperature and fuel level? Look for a different refreshing icon. Prefer a traditional speedometer/tachometer view? CarPlay Ultra has you covered, this time with minimal rendering that eliminates the visual overload. Also included is a zen-like option with an abstract landscape silhouette and a full-screen navigation map, both of which feature a smart speed display to meet regulatory requirements.
Setting up CarPlay Ultra for the first time requires a cellular signal to install the key software, but once the system is turned on it uses cellular requirements basically the same as before. After the iPhone is wirelessly connected the screen settings can be selected using the car’s interface—in the case of the Aston Martin DBX we’re sampling, with a central touchscreen and small haptic thumbsticks based on the steering wheel. This steering wheel setup works easily enough to navigate basic functions in addition to the usual combination of physical buttons and Siri, which can now operate the radio, climate, and specific audio settings.
While it’s refreshing to see the familiar CarPlay widgets on the center screen alongside the driver’s display, it takes time to get used to the latest aesthetics. Apple collaborated with Aston Martin chief creative officer and studio head Marek Reichman on the look and feel. While Aston’s entry includes features such as badges around the visual gauges and a ‘Handmade in Great Britain’ logo, the uncredited typing features on the driver’s screen feel more Apple than Aston, especially in all but the standard dual-dial speedo/tach setup. Within that layout the center square can scroll through familiar items such as the Now Playing music icon, tire pressure, trip information and ADAS settings. The typeface is obviously based on iOS, although Apple reveals that it has been made as flexible as possible so it offers weights, sizes and features to match the ethos of the car it is paired with. The pared-down design feels as modern as the DBX’s interior, even if it looks more simplified because it’s surrounded by Aston Martin’s sophisticated and almost baroque form of soft leathers and techy carbon fiber.
That’s not to say there aren’t smart touches to the interface. For example, if the map display is selected on both screens the system automatically ensures that the view is not duplicated. Switch to POV view on the center screen, and the driver’s screen will reorient itself to show the full lane; do the reverse and it goes back. Finally (in CarPlay first), the Apple Maps app can be clicked and pointed at the screen. Our demo didn’t include Waze or Google Maps, and we’d be curious to see how the two stack up. Another first is the ability to adjust the audio settings within CarPlay Ultra, a powerhouse for audiophiles.
Our first interaction with Apple CarPlay Ultra reveals an interesting harmony between two worlds that have long been separated. No longer offered by a touchscreen, this new version of CarPlay is more focused, intuitive to navigate and, in the big and sometimes lost paradigm of Apple’s past, it just works. It is also nice to hear the modern interface in the car whose infotainment system was widely installed when it was launched in late 2019. “We’re very proud to be involved,” Reichman told us, “we’re proud to be up and running. The amount of collaborative work that’s going on between these two groups has been an incredible process.” Perhaps the only remaining questions surround the genius of the visual identity and how a brand like Aston—modern yet strong, handcrafted yet modern—fits within Apple’s less-is-more interface style.
Apple CarPlay Ultra is available from today, 15 May for all current Aston Martin delivery models and can be retrofitted to the 2024 DB12 through dealers. This complete mobile integration solution is an exciting and promising start that will be followed by brands including Hyundai, Kia and Genesis in addition to Porsche as previously announced.
