The leaked images reported in January 2025 show a next-generation CarPlay widget interface, including weather, calendar, clock and music elements. They were not Apple-confirmed screenshots of a finished product. Apple later announced its next-generation system as CarPlay Ultra, a deeper vehicle integration that can extend to the instrument cluster and car controls.
What do the CarPlay 2.0 leaked images show?
On January 14, 2025, 9to5Mac reported that Aaron Perris had shared four images of a CarPlay 2 widget interface found in an EU database. The report described the images as a leak; Apple did not confirm that they depict a final or shipping interface. 9to5Mac’s report identifies these visible elements:
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- A clock displaying the time in a city.
- A Forecast weather widget.
- A calendar widget highlighting the next event.
- A combined navigation and Now Playing widget.
- A separate Now Playing widget.
The screen also retains an app column along its left side. The images offer a reported glimpse of interface development, not proof that those exact widgets, layout or design shipped.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIs CarPlay 2.0 the same as CarPlay Ultra?
“CarPlay 2.0” is an informal name used in reporting for Apple’s next-generation CarPlay project. Apple used the name CarPlay Ultra when it announced the next generation on May 15, 2025. The January leak and the May announcement are different kinds of evidence: the former showed reported interface images, while Apple’s later announcement described the launched system’s capabilities. Apple’s announcement called CarPlay Ultra “the next generation of CarPlay.”
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What CarPlay Ultra adds beyond the leaked widgets
The reported images focus on widgets and the screen layout. CarPlay Ultra is a broader integration between the iPhone and a compatible vehicle, with content distributed across the car’s displays rather than limited to a central infotainment screen.
- Driver displays: It can show information across screens, including the instrument cluster, with speedometer and tachometer readings, fuel and temperature gauges.
- iPhone content: Maps, media and iPhone-powered widgets can appear on the vehicle display or gauge cluster.
- Vehicle information: Depending on the vehicle integration and available data, it can display information such as driver-assistance status and tire pressure.
- Vehicle controls: Drivers can manage radio, climate and vehicle-specific settings through on-screen controls, physical buttons or Siri.
Apple’s WWDC24 architecture session explains that the experience combines content rendered in the vehicle with content rendered remotely by the iPhone. The vehicle supplies current-state information according to its integration and the data available to it. That technical design is why a phone update or a generic aftermarket adapter alone should not be assumed to add CarPlay Ultra to an unsupported car; compatibility depends on the automaker’s vehicle integration.
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Which cars support CarPlay Ultra?
At its May 15, 2025 launch announcement, Apple said CarPlay Ultra was available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the United States and Canada. Apple also said certain existing Aston Martin vehicles equipped with the brand’s latest next-generation infotainment system would receive it through a software update. Hyundai, Kia and Genesis were named as brands committed to bringing CarPlay Ultra to drivers. These were announcement-era statements, not a complete current list of supported models, trims or regions.
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What iPhone and software are required?
Apple says CarPlay Ultra works with an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. Apple’s CarPlay developer documentation describes Ultra as wireless, available when the driver’s iPhone is present, and designed to leave driving features powered by the vehicle’s built-in system.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the leaked images fit the development timeline
Apple announced its next-generation CarPlay project in 2022. In January 2025, 9to5Mac reported that earlier targets of 2023 and the end of 2024 had passed without the new system launching. The report also pointed to references in iOS 18.3 beta 2, including references associated with Maps and climate controls. Those beta-code references were evidence that development continued at the time, not confirmation of the later shipping feature set. Apple announced CarPlay Ultra in May 2025.
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Widgets are not unique to Ultra. Apple’s developer documentation also covers widgets and Live Activities in standard CarPlay: widgets appear to the left of CarPlay Dashboard and may support touch interaction in vehicles with a touchscreen; Live Activities can appear automatically in Dashboard or as a notification. The existence of standard CarPlay widgets does not make a car compatible with CarPlay Ultra.
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