• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

The latest and greatest version of Apple CarPlay is available starting with Aston Martin. 

“Three years ago, Apple showed the world a sneak peek of the next generation of CarPlay and left us with more questions than answers,” according to MotorTrend. “Was it actually a preview of the long-rumored Apple Car? Was this Apple taking over the dashboard? Or was it really CarPlay 2.0? Now, we have our answer, and it’s called CarPlay Ultra.”

The new system will be available in other models that can upgrade to Ultra via a software update. Brands that will soon feature CarPlay Ultra include Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, according to Apple. 

“Apple's latest update introduces several new features that take integration to a whole other level,” according to USA Today. “Drivers will be able to manage radio and climate control settings through Siri. Vehicle-specific performance fixtures like suspension settings and driving modes will now be adjusted through CarPlay. Customizable widgets like weather and trip information will now be displayed on vehicle screens as well.”

Aston Martin has created a video showing how Ultra works. 

“The video shows Apple's UI integrated not only into the main, center display, but also into the instrument cluster in front of the driver, which we've never seen before,” notes Mashable. “While the new Ultra system is similar to Apple CarPlay of old, it is basically a full takeover of the car's infotainment system. You'll see familiar Apple user interface details everywhere, be it in the climate controls, navigation, or the instrument cluster.”

The first vehicle to get it is the Aston Martin DBX SUV, which is featured in the video.

“Ultra combines information from its host vehicle with its own interface and displays it all through a familiar Apple lens,” according to Edmunds. “That means that even controls like the HVAC system now have an Apple look when Ultra is in use, though they maintain functionality specific to the Aston DBX.”