On the coast of Los Angeles for an hour, I just did more than 250,000 Austin Martin when it became impossible to ignore my appetite, and as I have done many times before, I asked Siri (via Apple Carplay) to find me to find a taco space. But then I did not allow any other car on the planet: I asked Suri to blow up the AC and cool the air. The reason for this is that the first vehicle operating in 2025 Eston Martin DBX was a company with Apple Carpel Ultra, a company’s upgraded version of the company’s car software.
Apple launched the carplay ultra in the WWDBC 2025 last month, and this year’s Austin Martin DBX version is the first vehicle to launch (with the iPhone that is running iOS 18.5 or after). When I opened the surrounding luxury crossover, I tied up with other features that are not available in regular carpels, from climate control to radio to radio. Finally, the ultra provides deep access to the car system, which is a good thing.
Within Austin Martin DBX, the display can pull the climate control and explain the temperature zone.
It reminded me of a new feature announced in Google I/O in May: Google Built -in, which also allows users to control the maximum car system from the software interface (in this case, Android Auto). When I was demonstrated Google Built -in, sitting in a new Volvo EX90 Electric SUV, I saw what this new integration of Google Software has presented: Climate control, Gemini AI aid and even car maintenance issues.
But this name is stating: Google Built -in for them, automated makers need to add Android to the internal works of their cars. Compared, the Apple Corplay Ultra Support seems to be that the car manufacturers will not have to work almost as much as AS to produce their vehicles, just add a properly modern multi -core processor that can handle the task load. –
Both solutions reflect different ways of Apple and Google’s car software about their next version. Apple has a lighter weight, seemingly less than an automated determination to integrate carpley ultra into its vehicles (as long as it has appropriate processing power on the board), which will run through the pair -maker iPhone. Google Built -in them requires a lot of integration, but it is so self -sufficient that you can leave your Android phone at home and still get the most functional (besides receiving and sending messages and calls).
Note the Austin Martin brand colors and logo on two dials (left on the left speedometer RPM right), which has a place in the middle for a rotating app screen (maps, media, etc.).
Driving with Apple CarPlay Ultra: Country to Cabinet, Radio and More
When I went to Los Angeles in Austin Martin with Apple Carplay Ultra, I could tell what new features would I lose once I step into the driver’s daily driver.
Finally, I can ask Siri and ask it to play a specific song (or just a band) and pull it on the spot. Since Apple’s assistant now has access to climate control, I asked the AC to change, and it was completely blast. I asked to find a taco and suggested several fast food restaurants – okay, it’s not perfect, but at least it is listening.
For my relief, Austin Martin retains physical nubs by gearshift to control the fan speed, temperature, stereo volume and car’s Hazara roadway options (such as driving aid) if the driver likes traditional control, but almost all of them can be converted into interfaces. Now, things like radio controls (AM/FM and satellites) and car settings are settled in their own identified apps in the carplay interface.
Finally, this carplay will be one of the biggest benefits of ultra: If you enter an unknown car (such as a fare), you still know where everything is. There is no wrestling with the carmaker’s proprietary software or is not trying to find out where a sequence or anyone else is located. This is not a complete alternative – in the case of Austin Martin, there were still a handful of settings (like the door opens when the door is predicted) that the luxury auto -maker was controlled, but they were made in the carplay so that you could open the windows and return to Apple’s interface without Apple.
CNET senior reporter David Lumb 2025 is standing in front of Eston Martin DBX, the first vehicle to launch with Apple Carpel Ultra.
Apple’s corpse software reliable Yummy will likely become even more important as cars replaced the clusters of their analog device for screens, as did Austin Martin. There is still a touch of the high -end automaker signature style as the default screen behind the wheel shows two traditional dials (for one speedometer, one for an RPMS) that has Austin Martin’s leverage. But this can be replaced for other styles, from other dials to custom colors to a full screen maps option.
Half a dozen or more dashboard options were replaced by a small square touch pad on the wheel with another touch control. On the types of dual dial display, I swap vertically to rotate between central square (with maps direction, current music or other app information) or swap horizontally to switch to another dashboard option. It doesn’t matter who you choose, the bottom bar contains all the warning lights that the driver will identify with analog cars – even despite the digital display, you are not safe from the check engine light (which is a good thing).
Apple Corplay Ultra I still do not make every effort. I wish I could also ask Siri to throw the windows down (as Google may be built-in-then more) and lock or unlock specific doors. If Apple is so connected to the car that every tire is able to read the pressure, I wish this engine can connect with the Red Out and tell me in a simple language to tell me what the problem of recovery has arisen. Hack, I wish it could be connected to the car and blow up the AC before I enter (or before heating the seat), as some proprietary car can apps. And while Apple’s maps and vows will be included at the launch, Google Maps is not support, but it is coming later.
These are not a huge shortage, and they show that where the carpel ultra can better meet the driver’s needs in future updates, despite the potential to use carplay ultra for remote climate or unlocking capabilities. But this shows that today’s limits are compared to Google’s depth approach.
In Google I/O, the company had a showcase with Volvo EX90 Electric SUV to display Google Built -in.
Google Built-in: Deep car integration-and, of course, Gemini AI
After the keynote of Google I/O in May, after the participants flocks between focused sessions and next software demo. Google Built was the best time to check them, which was properly shown in a high -end Volvo EX90 Electric SUV (though not close like Austin Martin).
As mentioned above, Google Built -in has deep integration with vehicles I saw in the Apple Carplay Ultra, which allows users to change climate through its interface or access other systems through sound requests. For example, it can go beyond the AC AC control to replace the defector, and can also extend specific windows in the competition of the speaker’s position: the camera inside the car (in the Rear View mirror, if I remember the right) that when my protesters pointed to their left shoulder, the window pointed to the window.
Google is also linked to Gemini, Google’s AI Assistant, for which the company “Google Live” is currently calling a separate and more capable version of the Android Auto Assistant experience in cars. With a direct session, I could request music or instructions as I could do with Siri – but my demo went further, as the protesters handed over the Gemini with better requests for Generative A, such as asking, “Give me tips to get out of the family” and send a particular text to contact.
Google Built -in with them entry of Volvo Ex90.
The protesters then asked Gemini for guidance advice – “I have chicken, rice and broccoli in the fridge, what can I make?” – For example a question, a drive can ask at home.
Since you have been signed to your Google Account, Gemini can consult anything associated with it, such as emails and messages. It is also trained by every car maker on the customer’s customs, so if there is a warning light, the driver can ask the sound assistant what it means.
Google Built -in has other benefits to them, as some features do not need your own phone. But there are also defects, such as the need to keep car software updates, more work at the end of Google to ensure that the cars are protected from problems or achievements. They just can’t fix it in the recent version of Android – they will need to fix old versions that can still be operated by vehicles.
Google Built -in with them has many benefits to this deep integration Apple Carpel Ultra (a familiar interface, easy to access features), which are just a crank up to a higher degree. It definitely benefits the hand -off control fans, and naturally contributes to Google’s investment, so it is easy to improve this functionality. But more dependent on Android in the car system can be about the age of the vehicle: Will software support stop? Will it slow down or come to the security achievements? There are a lot of questions that are left to open cars for the phone software interface.
See this: Driving with carplay ultra: Apple Dashboard displays fine