Huge Apple CarPlay update brings custom dials to EVs like the Porsche Taycan

Get in, start the car and connect your phone to Apple CarPlay; this is the process many drivers go through each day, bypassing the manufacturer’s infotainment system in favour of Apple’s take on in-car tech.

Now, the tech giant has given us our first glimpse of the next generation of Apple CarPlay, with manufacturers like Porsche, Polestar and Aston Martin signing up to allow for full customisation of the car home screen and dials using the app.

Set to appear in Porsche’s upcoming line of EVs such as the Taycan and forthcoming Macan EV, Apple’s new software will now allow iPhone users to transform the dials, as well as the multiple touchscreens of their car with a new CarPlay-specific interface.

This means that in cars such as the Polestar 2 with its digital dials, drivers will be able to have full-screen Apple Maps right in their line of sight. Owners of Porsche Taycan models specified with the additional passenger display will also be able to utilise Apple’s software on that screen as well, allowing passengers to change the music, check the weather or even, potentially, watch videos via apps like YouTube.

This level of integration means you’ll now also be able to adjust things like the climate controls and radio, all without having to leave the CarPlay app, making the whole experience more seamless.

Apple has worked with manufacturers to allow each to customise the overall look of CarPlay to suit its personal identity and aesthetic; for example, Aston Martins featuring the new Apple CarPlay will have British Racing Green accents integrated into the displays, while we can see Porsche’s setup will boast a sporty central speed/tachometer, just like the analogue dials of its petrol line-up.

Aston Martin has confirmed this new generation of Apple CarPlay will debut throughout its line-up in 2024. However, the first EV models to get it will probably be the aforementioned Taycan and Macan EV; both are expected to receive this update in 2025. These features are also likely to come to other, less expensive EVs, although it ultimately depends on whether the manufacturer will allow it.