CarPlay Ultra, the next generation of CarPlay, begins rolling out today

Tim-in-CA

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Would be interesting but it would require Lucid to effectively relinquish a lot of its infotainment branding inside the car, and control of its core user experience to Apple and its rules. Yes, it's user-selectable, but still. Maybe yet a good idea but I can see why they may choose not to do this.
 
Would be interesting but it would require Lucid to effectively relinquish a lot of its infotainment branding inside the car, and control of its core user experience to Apple and its rules. Yes, it's user-selectable, but still. Maybe yet a good idea but I can see why they may choose not to do this.
100% and its why I don't see many automakers going all in on this version of CarPlay unless they're effectively giving up on software development for their cars. GM has woken up and realized that data is key for the success of your software efforts and it's what can give you a leading edge over your competitors which is why they've pulled the plug on CarPlay and AA. Automakers would be stupid to just give this data to Apple and Google for free especially knowing Apple for example was at one point developing a car.

They're also too controlling when they've had no part in paying for the development and engineering of the car. Apple wouldn't allow Lucid to put CarPlay on the pilot panel due to it being too low and taking the drivers sight off the road when looking down. Google clearly won't give Lucid the green light on AA for whatever reason. Why would you want to be continue to be held to ransom by these companies and let them constantly dictate the terms to you.

I would be extremely surprised to see this in full effect on Lucid. The best thing they can take from this update is not being locked into a stupid tiny square on the cockpit and be able to project it on the screen better.
 
100% and its why I don't see many automakers going all in on this version of CarPlay unless they're effectively giving up on software development for their cars. GM has woken up and realized that data is key for the success of your software efforts and it's what can give you a leading edge over your competitors which is why they've pulled the plug on CarPlay and AA. Automakers would be stupid to just give this data to Apple and Google for free especially knowing Apple for example was at one point developing a car.

They're also too controlling when they've had no part in paying for the development and engineering of the car. Apple wouldn't allow Lucid to put CarPlay on the pilot panel due to it being too low and taking the drivers sight off the road when looking down. Google clearly won't give Lucid the green light on AA for whatever reason. Why would you want to be continue to be held to ransom by these companies and let them constantly dictate the terms to you.

I would be extremely surprised to see this in full effect on Lucid. The best thing they can take from this update is not being locked into a stupid tiny square on the cockpit and be able to project it on the screen better.

While I understand what you are saying, it seems like that is looking at it purely from the automakers perspective.

As a consumer, I very much prefer using Carplay. Everyone I know with an iPhone now uses Carplay in their cars. It makes the infotainment and navigation aspect of cars so much better.

I'd love to have this Carplay Ultra in a Lucid, but I am not getting my hopes up. I am glad Lucid at least has standard Carplay though.

GM's decision not to use Carplay going forward is a "TBD" on how it will go in the future. So far there isn't a lot of Carplay demand in EVs because Tesla was able to get by without it. But Carplay is soooooo ubiquitous in ICE vehicles. Even the 2025 Chevy Malibu I had as a rental had Carplay, which made the experience of having a rental much more comfortable (because at least the UI was the same as I was always used to).
 
Carplay Ultra goes way beyond just giving you access to your music, navigation, text messages, other apps. Ultra essentially replaces the entire car UX, well beyond just the infotainment system. You will NEVER see ultra in a software centric vehicle like Lucid, nor Tesla, Rivian. Be happy that at least Lucid gives you access to regular CarPlay unlike Tesla, Rivian and GM.

I see Ultra as being aimed at the manufacturer that has an antiquated UX and don’t have the resources or don’t want to invest in developing one. I hear Porsche is also possibly going to adopt.
 
I see Ultra as being aimed at the manufacturer that has an antiquated UX and don’t have the resources or don’t want to invest in developing one. I hear Porsche is also possibly going to adopt.
Makes sense particularly for Aston Martin as a small manufacturer with no designs on the mass luxury market as Lucid has. Their brand identity is presumably not at all dependent on their infotainment UX.
 
I will only buy a car with Carplay Ultra for my next automobile now that this officially coming. I really thought Lucid would get it since they hired that Apple guy. Hope they do at some point. Surprised BMW is not getting this as they were at the forefront of Carplay at one point.
 
I will only buy a car with Carplay Ultra for my next automobile now that this officially coming. I really thought Lucid would get it since they hired that Apple guy. Hope they do at some point. Surprised BMW is not getting this as they were at the forefront of Carplay at one point.
Then you will have a very, very limited selection of cars to buy.
 
Then you will have a very, very limited selection of cars to buy.
Not really. Did you see the list of cars coming out with it? I think car mfg’s are crazy if they don’t support that. There are many dedicated Apple people, my son included, who will only go that route, especially younger generation. We have all been waiting for next gen Carplay. Will be awesome! 🙂. Easy market share increase for Lucid if they would support it.
 
Not really. Did you see the list of cars coming out with it? I think car mfg’s are crazy if they don’t support that. There are many dedicated Apple people, my son included, who will only go that route, especially younger generation. We have all been waiting for next gen Carplay. Will be awesome! 🙂. Easy market share increase for Lucid if they would support it.
Completely disagree with you, carmakers would be stupid to go all in and give Apple the keys to the kingdom. I didn't buy the Lucid for just its driving ability I purchased it for the whole ecosystem including software, OTA's etc. The fact that Lucid will be offering streaming apps, zoom, teams and fingers crossed on Apple Music etc. natively I see no value in CarPlay and having my cars UI look the same as it is on a $20K vehicle. Nor do I think Lucid should be prioritizing its software efforts to appease Apple over its own.

Also, don't get too excited. What Apple is showing off vs what you're probably going to get are two very different things. BMW, Mercedes, etc. have all said they will support the new CarPlay but not the way Apple intended \ wants them to. Just like today with the existing CarPlay you're going to see some very different flavors of what you will get and won't get across brands.

I see this as an offering for carmakers who don't give a crap about software so yeah, maybe save yourself some dollars on your next purchase and get a Hyundai or Kia with Apple CarPlay Ultra. I think people really overestimate how critical CarPlay and AA are to a cars sales. Tesla and Rivian seem to be doing just fine so if you get software right people don't want it.
 
Personally, while I love CarPlay, I like the look of Lucid's UI, especially on the drivers display.
I'd love better integration, especially how the pilot panel and media display's work together, but taking over the entire car's display is a no for me.
 
I am sure I am in a minority here, but I hate Apple Carplay. I own an iPhone, so it's not like I am a reflexive Apple hater, but I just can't stand the look and feel of it. It looks cartoony to me and I don't like it taking over the whole vehicle screen. When I get a rental car, sometimes I use it begrudgingly, but I'd just as soon just hold my phone and use google maps that way. (I know I will probably get some hate for that) I may also be an outlier since I own a 2017 Tesla S (with the big portrait screen) and I really enjoy its software and the "look" of it, the huge maps (for the most part) and the way it all presents cohesively. I guess Carplay Ultra will also be cohesive but I don't want to drive a car with an iPad, leave alone drive an entire iPad. I guess I will have to accept Carplay in my Gravity when I get it, primarily for the maps since I have not heard encouraging things about the native Lucid maps app, but hopefully I can confine Carplay to a small area of real estate.
 
I am sure I am in a minority here, but I hate Apple Carplay. I own an iPhone, so it's not like I am a reflexive Apple hater, but I just can't stand the look and feel of it. It looks cartoony to me and I don't like it taking over the whole vehicle screen
You’re not the only one in that club. I could count on one hand how many times I’ve opened CarPlay on my Air in the last 12 to 18 months.

I guess I will have to accept Carplay in my Gravity when I get it, primarily for the maps since I have not heard encouraging things about the native Lucid maps app,

I use the Lucid navigation exclusively and have never had an issue with it. Also, it’s certainly improved over the last 12 months with them continuing to add more things into it etc.
 
I get both sides of this debate, when I got my Lucid (like @HC_79), I was all about the native UI, but when it was shaky, I pivoted to CarPlay, but I hated how it was locked into the top panel, I really liked the ability to navigate from the pilot panel so I opted to use the native UI for most of the time I drove it. But Apple (I believe Google too) does remove massive amounts of data collection when the driver/passenger uses CarPlay, Gm figured this out early, and are going all in! @HC_79 I agree with you that, how do you say...more cost efficient MFG's I can see them leaning into CarPlay since they don't want to invest in a complete OS build out, but I would bet that most above market MFG's will have their own or at least offer both.

Either way it will be interesting to see play out! Auto companies want to become tech companies! What's better than market competition!
 
I hope my experience will match yours on the native maps. I'd imagine you'd need to be using that anyways in order to enjoy the full functionality of the ARHUD.
 
Completely disagree with you, carmakers would be stupid to go all in and give Apple the keys to the kingdom. I didn't buy the Lucid for just its driving ability I purchased it for the whole ecosystem including software, OTA's etc. The fact that Lucid will be offering streaming apps, zoom, teams and fingers crossed on Apple Music etc. natively I see no value in CarPlay and having my cars UI look the same as it is on a $20K vehicle. Nor do I think Lucid should be prioritizing its software efforts to appease Apple over its own.

Also, don't get too excited. What Apple is showing off vs what you're probably going to get are two very different things. BMW, Mercedes, etc. have all said they will support the new CarPlay but not the way Apple intended \ wants them to. Just like today with the existing CarPlay you're going to see some very different flavors of what you will get and won't get across brands.

I see this as an offering for carmakers who don't give a crap about software so yeah, maybe save yourself some dollars on your next purchase and get a Hyundai or Kia with Apple CarPlay Ultra. I think people really overestimate how critical CarPlay and AA are to a cars sales. Tesla and Rivian seem to be doing just fine so if you get software right people don't want it.
I agree with all of your points. Ultra makes total sense for someone like Austin Martin that have been using 10 year old Mercedes infotainment in their cars. That list of “promised to adopt” companies was from 2022 when Ultra was first announced. A number of companies have since publicly bailed out after finding out how much total control of all car systems Apple wants. The only current continued commitment other than Austin is Hyundai/Kia/Genisis. My bet is that Kia would implement Ultra on their cheaper ICE cars as a cheap/quick way to update these econoboxes to look modern. On their higher end cars with more smart capabilities and particularly their EVs, I could see giving you a hybrid system that uses Ultra for infotainment functions but retains internal car control functions.
 
I hope my experience will match yours on the native maps. I'd imagine you'd need to be using that anyways in order to enjoy the full functionality of the ARHUD.
Yeah, someone can correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think CarPlay works with any vehicles HUD as of today.
 
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