Apple’s immersive next-gen CarPlay will start with Porsche and Aston Martin

Apple said we’d get vehicle announcements tied to its “next generation” of wireless CarPlay by the end of 2023, and today, it delivered mock-ups of the dashboard-spanning UI styled for Porsche and Aston Martin. Instead of simply taking over the infotainment center and small segments of the in-dash areas, it seeks to overhaul all displays of the given vehicle.

The theme is distinct to each automaker and also gives CarPlay access to the vehicle’s features, like your radio and temperature settings. In the Porsche setup, there’s a three-dial layout with the speedometer on the left and a wallpaper made to match its houndstooth seat pattern.

In the Aston Martin layout, there’s a media display in the center, surrounded by the speedometer and tachometer, and outlined in the brand’s distinctive green. Car & Driver reports that all driving-specific data is delivered by the car’s sensors, even as your iPhone runs the apps, with a note that, according to Apple, the phone does not store or track the vehicle-sourced information.

The feature was announced at Apple’s WWDC developer conference in 2022, and at the same event this year, it told app developers to prepare for the new system that adds pairing with specific car keys, a simplified connection flow, enhanced Siri, and other changes.

It’s pitched as “the ultimate iPhone experience” in-car, which goes a step further than overlays like traditional CarPlay, Android Auto, or even built-in Google apps (which will also be supported by Porsche, eventually). It’s also different from Android Automotive because it’s still managed by your phone.

Car & Driver also reports that Aston Martin will support this in the infotainment system launching next year in cars like the DB12 and its convertible version, the DB12 Volante. Porche’s plans are less clear; however, in an email, Porsche spokesperson Calvin Kim said the integration of its systems will “go one level further” than existing setups with the launch of its all-electric Macan, and there will be more details available next year once it’s revealed.