Motoring Meets Mac: Aston Martin Becomes First To Roll Out Apple CarPlay Ultra

In the world of ultra-luxury motoring, Aston Martin just dropped a digital bombshell – leaving the competition blinking in its digital rear-view mirror.

Aston Martin’s supercar of SUVs, DBX and the brand’s core sportscar range first in the world to feature the next generation of CarPlay.
Deeper integration between Aston Martin and iPhone brings car control features right into the CarPlay Ultra experience.
A seamless and personalised experience, extending across both the centre touch screen and driver instrument cluster.
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Staying in the loop with Aston Martin’s latest updates is a bit like waiting for Q to hand over the gadgets – inevitable, shrouded in secrecy, and always just a little too quiet for comfort. They’re not exactly known for sharing every move, especially in South Africa, where the local comms are about as frequent as a DB5 sighting in rush hour.

However, the iconic British marque has become the first car manufacturer in the world to debut Apple CarPlay Ultra, a leap in in-car connectivity that combines the refinement of an Aston Martin with the intelligence of an iPhone. Now, while certain luxury marques are still fumbling with patchy wireless Apple CarPlay that still needs a cable – or worse, offering no CarPlay at all – Aston Martin is redefining the meaning of seamless digital integration.

Aston Martin’s new tagline might as well be: Powered by Passion, Driven by iOS. The company’s bold push into infotainment innovation began with its next-generation in-house system introduced in the DB12 in 2023. And now, they’ve taken things up a gear with CarPlay Ultra – a system that doesn’t just mirror your iPhone screen but embeds it into the DNA of the car itself.

So, what exactly is CarPlay Ultra? Think of it as CarPlay on steroids – more immersive, more integrated, and a lot more personal. This isn’t just your iPhone mirrored onto a screen. It’s your iPhone woven into the very fabric of your Aston Martin. Everything from navigation to climate control and even instrument cluster layouts are now controlled via a beautifully crafted interface that spans the car’s central touchscreen and the driver display.

Currently available on new orders in the USA and Canada – including the DBX SUV and core sportscar models like the Vantage and DB12 – CarPlay Ultra is also coming as an update for existing Aston models with the next-gen infotainment system in the coming weeks. South African Aston enthusiasts will need to keep revving in anticipation, as there’s no firm date for local availability just yet – or at least, from what we know. But let’s be honest, if you’ve dropped seven figures on a British thoroughbred, what’s a few more weeks for Ultra connectivity?

Personalisation is where CarPlay Ultra really flexes its luxury muscle. Aston Martin has worked hand-in-hand with Apple’s design team to ensure the interface remains unmistakably Aston. Everything from the instrument cluster themes to colour palettes and wallpapers can be fine-tuned to match the driver’s tastes – be it Bond-level minimalism or flamboyant GT chic.

And this isn’t just skin-deep. CarPlay Ultra allows you to control core vehicle functions like radio, climate settings, and performance options via touchscreen, physical controls, or even Siri. You can also set your dial themes, layout, and widgets – giving your dash a look that’s as individual as your fingerprint (or Face ID).

Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple, and to be first to launch CarPlay Ultra. As a brand, our focus on world-leading performance goes beyond powertrains and craftsmanship.

// CEO of Aston Martin, Adrian Hallmark

He added that this tech-forward leap is a statement of intent – marrying high-performance driving with the intuitive, beautifully designed digital interfaces we’ve come to expect from Cupertino.

With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers, we are re-imagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent… We are excited to kick off the rollout with Aston Martin.

// Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Marketing, Bob Borchers

It’s not just a bigger screen or flashier icons. It’s the deep integration of your iPhone into the car’s internal systems. Drivers can now view driving assistance features, tire pressure, performance data, and more – all within CarPlay. Need directions while checking RPMs? No problem. Want to adjust your ride’s suspension setup while tuning in to your podcast? Easy. Want your dashboard to look like a star ship cockpit or a Swiss watch? Done.

If you ever wanted to know what James Bond’s Q Division would cook up if they worked at Apple, this is probably it. Image: Aston Martin

More importantly, Apple’s rigorous privacy standards still apply. So, while your car knows more about your habits than ever, your data stays under lock and key. Let’s take a moment to appreciate that this isn’t just a triumph for Apple – it’s a crowning achievement for Aston Martin’s own team. Their in-house infotainment system, launched last year, was the perfect canvas for this next-gen integration. It’s as though Aston Martin anticipated the future – and now, with CarPlay Ultra, they’ve painted it in handcrafted leather and brushed aluminium.

And don’t worry – physical buttons still have their place. Gear selection, climate control, and those glorious performance mode toggles remain tactile, giving drivers the best of both digital and analogue worlds. As of now, only Aston Martin drivers can enjoy this next-level Apple experience. Other brands, like Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, are working on their integrations, but Aston’s head start means they’re leading the grid. For a company that once played catch-up in the tech department, it’s a pole-position moment.

In a world where smartphones rule our lives, CarPlay Ultra is the ultimate fusion of daily convenience with supercar excitement. It’s no longer just about how fast you go – it’s about how seamlessly you get there, how informed you are along the way, and how beautiful your cabin looks while doing it.

Aston Martin has pulled off something special here. Not only are they the first to deliver CarPlay Ultra, but they’ve done it with style, precision, and panache worthy of their legacy. For South African fans of the brand – and iPhone devotees – it’s a mouth-watering proposition. And while we wait for this tech to officially touch down on local roads, one thing is clear: the future of driving isn’t just powerful. It’s personalised, polished, and paired via Bluetooth.

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