Aston getting Apple CarPlay ULTRA - Helpful or Sinister?
Discussion
Folks may have received an email from Aston Martin today announcing Apple CarPlay ULTRA coming initially to DBX S. Takes control of more than Nav & Infotainment. Here’s the details in the email;
And here’s a close up of one of the interface pages (here showing control of HVAC);
There’s a good explanatory video by the Top Gear YouTube channel;
Helpful asset or sinister hindrance? Do you want another company taking over control of your car’s user interface? Android users may be relieved to hear that there’s nothing for them (yet!).
I’m sure (as with all early releases of software) that there will be initial bugs and glitches. You need minimum of iPhone 12 and iOS 18.4, and the system relies on a wireless connection.
Apparently this is coming to other manufacturers soon……
And here’s a close up of one of the interface pages (here showing control of HVAC);
There’s a good explanatory video by the Top Gear YouTube channel;
Helpful asset or sinister hindrance? Do you want another company taking over control of your car’s user interface? Android users may be relieved to hear that there’s nothing for them (yet!).
I’m sure (as with all early releases of software) that there will be initial bugs and glitches. You need minimum of iPhone 12 and iOS 18.4, and the system relies on a wireless connection.
Apparently this is coming to other manufacturers soon……
VantageHead said:
As you’ll hear from the video, not all companies are happy with Apple taking over all their screens on their cars - the example cited is Ola Källenius at Mercedes who said a ‘big fat NO’!
His customers might disagree. I can’t think of a single manufacturer that produces good software. Mercedes is horrendous. BMW used to be good but the latest is the stuff of nightmares. Great PR coup for Aston as launch partner. The DBX is everywhere in my feeds and the perception that it has outdated tech is now blown into the weeds. Very clever marketing.
I suspect the venn diagram of people buying a new Aston and using an Android device is two distinct circles as with that platform users are usually either cheap or some sort of unhinged zealot, mainly the former.
Davil said:
I suspect the venn diagram of people buying a new Aston and using an Android device is two distinct circles as with that platform users are usually either cheap or some sort of unhinged zealot, mainly the former.
I would presume that, like with Android Automotive, provision is made for Android users. Oh, and 2007 is calling, they'd like their iSheep attitude back. Android is neither cheap (unless you want it to be, unlike Apple) or just for geeks.
Just heard from my AML MD that CarPlay Ultra will be available exclusively for dealer install on the 2025 model ‘new new’ Vantage from 17th Oct 2025 with DB12 ‘TBA’. The bulletin from AML didn’t mention if there was a charge applicable for this upgrade.
He did mention that the Apple CarPlay Ultra upgrade was specifically designed for the current range of Astons fitted with the touch-screen interface and in-house developed informatics (not the previous generation based on the old Mercedes- based MBUX system). If you look at the end of the video (14:46 mins) above you’ll hear Marek Reichman (AML Chief Creative Officer) explain how AML worked closely in partnership with Apple to tailor this specifically for the current cars.
He did mention that the Apple CarPlay Ultra upgrade was specifically designed for the current range of Astons fitted with the touch-screen interface and in-house developed informatics (not the previous generation based on the old Mercedes- based MBUX system). If you look at the end of the video (14:46 mins) above you’ll hear Marek Reichman (AML Chief Creative Officer) explain how AML worked closely in partnership with Apple to tailor this specifically for the current cars.
Graze01 said:
looks brilliant - Davil wonder if it can be fitted to 2018-23 cars?
Graze
No. It needs all the fancy new LCD dashboard stuff. Graze
I’m really happy with my dealer fitted CarPlay in my Roadster. As a bonus I think I prefer where the screen is placed in our model, but that becomes less of an issue with the fancy new dashboard.
I’m also really happy with the factory CarPlay in my VH too
The new one looks so good though! Well done Aston.
Usually this kind of partnership/OEM arrangement is with manufacturers that don’t have the budget to compete so handing over the user experience to Apple (or Google in many cases) can make sense. For Aston Martin it makes a lot of sense I would have thought as infotainment is surely not a meaningful differentiator.
I personally want proper dials in my car, though. Dials drawn on a screen, not sure I really care who draws them.
I personally want proper dials in my car, though. Dials drawn on a screen, not sure I really care who draws them.
It’s very much a mixed bag.
I quite like CarPlay due to the ability to run Google maps, music apps, etc but it’s a bit of a PITA in more modern vehicles where it runs on secondary screens and masks options in the car’s own systems can become harder to access.
The consistency of the “look and feel” whilst in CarPlay is good when it comes to transitioning between vehicles but bad because it’s a bit generic. At present you get “the CarPlay look” on your screen. Do people really want that creeping in to the broader instrumentation? Sure it’d be more cohesive, but perhaps less distinctive, until/unless Apple give options for customisation/re-skinning but I’m not really sure that’s Apple’s style when it comes to interfaces.
I quite like CarPlay due to the ability to run Google maps, music apps, etc but it’s a bit of a PITA in more modern vehicles where it runs on secondary screens and masks options in the car’s own systems can become harder to access.
The consistency of the “look and feel” whilst in CarPlay is good when it comes to transitioning between vehicles but bad because it’s a bit generic. At present you get “the CarPlay look” on your screen. Do people really want that creeping in to the broader instrumentation? Sure it’d be more cohesive, but perhaps less distinctive, until/unless Apple give options for customisation/re-skinning but I’m not really sure that’s Apple’s style when it comes to interfaces.
Anyone upgraded their new Aston to Ultra? Thoughts...?
CarPlay Ultra Review: https://youtu.be/HcvF3XFlHeM?si=zNPSO0PFK7KG8WN-
CarPlay Ultra Review: https://youtu.be/HcvF3XFlHeM?si=zNPSO0PFK7KG8WN-
BenAstonV12 said:
Anyone upgraded their new Aston to Ultra? Thoughts...?
Not sure any DBX S models delivered yet (the first model to have this fitted as standard), and I’ve been told that Apple CarPlay Ultra will be available for new new Vantage from 17th October, so guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer for folks to receive this upgrade on their cars (or a new car fitted with it as standard).I’m on the fence about having the upgrade on my 2025 Vantage, as I’m not sure how reliable Version 1.0 of any software is, and don’t want to be a ‘Guinea pig’/early adopter. Maybe if there’s lots of great feedback from others, I’ll reconsider.
Also, there’s the matter of continuous development and update of ‘Ultra’, and given the large number of brands that have publicly declared that they will not adopt CarPlay Ultra, I wonder if the underwhelming demand will mean that ‘Ultra’ will be quietly shelved by AML in the future.
TBH, I’d far rather that the glitches in the existing base AML software were fixed!
k that, I'd turn it off and gaffer tape an FM radio to the dashboard!Davil said:
I suspect the venn diagram of people buying a new Aston and using an Android device is two distinct circles as with that platform users are usually either cheap or some sort of unhinged zealot, mainly the former.
One of my mistakes in life was not buying Apple shares.
When the Apple iPod music player went on sale for more than £200, there were similar generic music players available for £20.
The Apple product even prohibited files being transferred to other devices.
My mistaken decision was based upon the assumption, that not enough people would pay 10 times the price just to have an Apple product.
That error was later revealed, when we saw customers queuing over night to buy the latest Apple phone. A replacement for their existing Apple phone, purchased only 12 months previously. The presumption presumably, was they did not want to be seen using last years phone.
What a wonderful money making business.
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