Luxury and performance now come with a smarter, sharper interface as Aston Martin becomes the first in the world to roll out Apple CarPlay Ultra.
15 May 2025, Gaydon, UK – Aston Martin, a brand synonymous with high-octane performance and meticulous craftsmanship, has become the world’s first car manufacturer to integrate Apple’s next-generation CarPlay Ultra across its flagship models. This bold digital leap begins with the marque’s Supercar of SUVs, the DBX, and extends across the core sportscar range – including the Vantage, DB12, and Vanquish – ushering in a new era of connected luxury for drivers.
Co-developed in close collaboration with Apple, CarPlay Ultra reimagines the in-car experience by seamlessly blending Aston Martin’s bespoke design language with the intuitive, iPhone-powered interface millions of users already love. The result is a personalised, immersive, and intelligent driving environment – extending not only across the central 10.25” Pure Black touchscreen but also directly into the fully digital driver instrument cluster.
“Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple, and to be first to launch CarPlay Ultra,” said Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin CEO. “Our focus on world-leading performance goes beyond traditional metrics. With CarPlay Ultra, we’re delivering a technology experience that’s as refined and exhilarating as the cars themselves.”
A Personalised Digital Cockpit, Reimagined
At the heart of this rollout is a fully customisable dual-screen experience. CarPlay Ultra gives drivers the power to configure their own unique cockpit by choosing from a variety of themes for the digital dials, including speedometer and tachometer designs. Maps, media, and widgets can be displayed full-screen, creating a unified multi-display experience that aligns with the driver’s preferences – both visually and functionally.
Aston Martin’s team worked hand-in-hand with Apple to ensure the visual design of CarPlay Ultra complements the brand’s luxurious interior architecture. From wallpaper selections to accent colours, the interface feels unmistakably Aston Martin – a digital reflection of the marque’s iconic aesthetic.
Smartphone Functionality Meets Supercar DNA
More than just a pretty interface, CarPlay Ultra significantly enhances functionality. Drivers can now manage key vehicle systems such as radio, climate control, and even seat settings using voice commands via Siri, tactile buttons, or intuitive touchscreen gestures. This deep level of integration ensures an uninterrupted driving experience, no matter how the driver chooses to interact.
Widgets, powered directly by the user’s iPhone, offer glanceable information – from calendar updates to real-time weather – tailored to the way each owner lives and drives. This is Aston Martin luxury, with intelligence built in.
Infotainment Engineered by Aston Martin
The foundation of this transformation lies in Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system, which debuted on the DB12 in 2023. Developed entirely in-house – a first for the marque – the platform is designed around driver-focused interaction. The 10.25” Pure Black display features capacitive multi-gesture support, and physical controls remain for key operations such as gear selection, chassis control, ESP settings and more, maintaining the perfect balance between digital sophistication and mechanical tactility.
“With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers, we are reimagining the in-car experience,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We are thrilled to begin rolling it out with Aston Martin, combining Apple’s technology with the very best of British automotive design.”
Availability and Global Rollout
CarPlay Ultra is now standard on all new Aston Martin DBX, Vantage, DB12 and Vanquish models ordered in the USA and Canada. An over-the-air update will also bring the system to existing owners of compatible models equipped with the new infotainment architecture. Global market availability is set to expand over the next 12 months.
To use CarPlay Ultra, customers will need an iPhone 12 or newer, running iOS 18.54 or later.
