RAY MASSEY: Aston Martin helps usher in era of the ‘iDashboard’

Nowadays, modern cars have so much software on board they are often dubbed ‘computers on wheels.’

Well, brace yourself: the British luxury performance carmaker Aston Martin is the official launch partner for the new Apple Car Play Ultra dashboard system – marking a new beginning for increasingly digitised vehicles.

The new Ultra option is set to be rolled out across the entire motor industry, with more affordable family marques such as Kia, Hyundai and Genesis expected to be among those next in line for the update.

Despite being an early adopter of the Apple Mac computer (I wrote a book on one in the early 1990s) and a long-time user of the iPhone and iPad, I must admit to being a bit of a slowcoach when it comes to using my smartphone to control key elements of my car.

However, taking an Aston Martin DBX fitted with Ultra for a drive, I was among the first to ‘road test’ the new system – which marks a great step forward in two significant regards.

First, while the standard Apple Car Play allows the driver to link their iPhone to the central dashboard screen, the new Ultra System extends that facility to the driver’s instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. I could scroll between a variety of driver screen and instrument cluster options – from analogue-looking speedometer dials, to more linear versions and simple numbers.

Also included is the ability to display maps and media in full screen, allowing drivers to design their own multi-screen set-up, and the freedom to modify the layout.

The added twist is that each manufacturer can, with the help of Apple, create a bespoke design to suit the individual car brand, including a selection of scroll-through options for the look of speedometer and tachometer dials, from which the driver can choose.

It all seemed to gel together very well. And I’d never have known that the Car Play Ultra digital driver screen in front of me wasn’t the standard one on the car (which is very different). A lot of work has gone into that. Updates will also mean the system can be continually finessed.

The system also allowed me to manage vehicle functions such as air conditioning, temperature control, satnav music and radio, phone and so on.

One advantage with the Aston DBX, however, was that like its sports cars, it also retains many physical buttons. So if you are sceptical about touchscreen or Siri voice control, you can still resort to actual knobs, switches and dials.

And I imagine this is just the start: as the Ultra system expands, I expect AI will play an increasing role, in both controlling, but perhaps also driving our cars.

Ray took an Aston Martin DBX fitted with Ultra for a drive, and was among the first to ‘road test’ the new system

British luxury performance carmaker Aston Martin is the official launch partner for the new Apple Car Play Ultra dashboard system

Also included is the ability to display maps and media in full screen, allowing drivers to design their own multi-screen set-up, and the freedom to modify the layout

Apple Car Play (along with the rival Android Auto ) is now extremely popular either as standard or as a ‘must have’ option on modern cars, especially among younger drivers. So I did my Ultra drive from Aston Martin’s smart boutique headquarters at Gaydon in leafy Warwickshire – a real-life James Bond-style Q-Branch for sporty luxury cars and gadgets.

I could tailor the system’s background colours and ‘wallpaper’ patterns to match my mood.

Another key benefit over standard Car Play is that drivers no longer have to log out of an app to alter certain screen functions – it all works together seamlessly.

Launch-partner Aston Martin said it had worked extremely closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with their own brand’s design philosophy, adding: ‘Understanding the need for balance between touchscreen commands and the positive tactility of physical switches, buttons are retained for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation.

There are also override switches for chassis, electronic stability programme (ESP), exhaust settings, lane assist and park distance control ‘ensuring the most used controls are always conveniently to hand’, says Aston Martin.

Drivers can also add apps powered by iPhone that perfectly fit Aston Martin’s 10.25-inch infotainment screen or instrument cluster to provide ‘information at a glance’, it said.

Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark said: ‘Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple, and to be first to launch CarPlay Ultra.

‘Building on our in-house state-of-the-art infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalisation opportunities which place Aston Martin at the forefront of infotainment in the sector.’

The system also allowed Ray to manage vehicle functions such as air conditioning, temperature control, satnav music and radio, phone and so on

Launch-partner Aston Martin said it had worked extremely closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with their own brand’s design philosophy

Apple’s marketing vice president Bob Borchers said: ‘We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come.

‘The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the car-maker.’

He added: ‘iPhone users love CarPlay and it has changed the way people interact with their vehicles.

‘Together with car-makers we are reimagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent.’

The new Ultra system will be available across the Aston Martin range as standard from August, and available as a retro-fit download on older vehicles with the necessary software.

Fine on a luxury Aston Martin, you may say. But what about me?

Well, imagine soon doing all of these same things on, say, a Kia Sportage, a Ford Puma, Nissan Qashqai or Peugeot SUV – if they too decide to take it up. Each version specifically designed to seamlessly suit the brand on which it is fitted.

And that is exactly the plan as Apple Car Play Ultra is rolled out across the industry to more mainstream manufacturers of family vehicles.

It’s coming soon to a car near your – perhaps even to your own driveway.