An Early Taste of Next-Gen CarPlay: Porsche's New Update Proves It's Not All About Android

The new CarPlay will sport deeper vehicle integration and access data like battery information and climate controls. Apple's plan comes down to building a competitor to Android Automotive, Google's upgraded version of Android Auto that runs at the hardware level and powers the infotainment capabilities in the car.

Getting direct access to vehicle information isn't possible right now because CarPlay relies on a connection to the smartphone. The mobile device mirrors the user interface, and the current implementation restricts the phone projection capabilities to mobile apps.

The upcoming CarPlay update will lift some of these restrictions, though it'll be available exclusively in new-generation vehicles. Cars with the current CarPlay version won't be able to upgrade to the new release.

Enter Porsche.

The German carmaker, which has long been an early adopter of Apple technology, provides the world with an early look at what the new CarPlay could look like using the existing version. The company uses a clever approach to integrate vehicle data into the CarPlay experience, allowing drivers to access climate controls and interior lighting settings without leaving Apple's interface.

Because CarPlay can't connect to the vehicle and control its functions, Porsche combined Apple's car-optimized experience with the My Porsche app.

The companion app provides drivers access to all these systems, so by combining it with CarPlay, Porsche kills two birds with one stone.

Thanks to this update, all features available in the My Porsche app, such as access to battery levels in electric vehicles, will also land on CarPlay. Users can check the air quality from the dashboard and switch between wellness modes, such as relax, warm up, and refresh. Everything will be displayed within CarPlay, and drivers can jump from a Porsche-powered dashboard to navigation apps, like Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze, with just one tap.

Porsche's new capabilities, available today on the new Cayenne and will roll out to other models in the coming weeks and months, serve as a teaser for the upcoming CarPlay update.

Apple wants CarPlay to use all screens in the vehicle, including the instrument cluster and possibly the rear-seat infotainment system. The deeper vehicle integration would allow CarPlay to read EV data, turning Apple Maps into the recommended navigation app for these models. Apple Maps has already been updated with EV routing, looking for nearby charging stations and automatically suggesting stops when required.

The new-generation CarPlay is part of Apple's strategy to remain a relevant player in the automotive business, as many carmakers go for Google's Android Automotive. The iPhone maker has already secured several partners, as companies like Ford, Honda, Nissan, and Mercedes will launch new models running the upgraded CarPlay later this year or early 2024.

Apple will present the new CarPlay in September alongside the new-generation iPhone lineup.