iPhone 18 Is Here, and There's Good News for CarPlay

Apple didn’t offer any stage time to CarPlay, but the release of the new-generation iPhone and iOS 27 brings good news to drivers.

The time has come for Apple to take the wraps off a new-generation iPhone. And while the fruit-named company hasn’t said a single word about CarPlay during the grand debut event of the iPhone 18, there’s actually good news for drivers.

iPhone 18 spearheads the debut of iOS 27, which in turn comes with several notable changes to the CarPlay experience.

The first of them is the addition of Siri AI. This is pretty much the top highlight of this release, as Siri AI is built on Google’s Gemini models and allows the AI revolution to make its way to CarPlay natively. Claude and other AI-powered assistants have already debuted on CarPlay, but Siri AI will be the only chatbot to support a wake-up phrase.

Next, we’re getting new wallpapers. Apple has added a new collection of backgrounds, and CarPlay now offers 14 images to choose from. Before you ask, solid black is still there, and all the redesigned icons that are available on your iPhone also expand to CarPlay.

New CarPlay Music Controls

Another big change for long-time CarPlay users is the addition of an updated progress bar in music apps that allows users to scrub through a playing song. This means that you can jump to a specific point in a song by simply swiping left and right on the progress bar. This is something users have been requesting for quite some time.

Music apps are also getting a mini-player that shows up in the top right corner, allowing users to control playback when they browse the apps. However, you should note that this mini-player is only available when you are in the app.

There are also several under-the-hood improvements, including updated integration of navigation apps. Beginning with iOS 27, apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps can share more route information with vehicles, therefore allowing for deeper integration.

For example, Apple Maps already offers more capabilities in some cars, such as Ford’s, thanks to deeper integration, but these features are now becoming easier to implement after the update to iOS 27.

A vehicle can look for nearby location data using Apple Maps based on its current range. Apple Maps can suggest charging stations when the battery level drops below a certain range and update the navigation route accordingly.

Apple Maps Gets Better on CarPlay

And speaking of Apple Maps, the navigation app is also getting a bunch of refinements that allow for more straightforward hands-free interaction.

For example, users can now configure routes in CarPlay to avoid toll roads and highways, without having to tap the screen.

These changes may not look as dramatic as a completely redesigned CarPlay interface, but they make the platform more useful for everyday driving. With deeper vehicle integration, improved navigation, new music controls, and Siri AI, iOS 27 continues to expand what drivers can do through their car’s infotainment system.

For CarPlay users who rely on an aftermarket CarPlay upgrade, these software improvements are also worth keeping in mind. The CarPlay experience continues to evolve through iOS updates, even when the vehicle itself does not receive a new infotainment system.

iOS 27 will become available for all supported iPhones (the same ones that run iOS 26, so if your iPhone already runs the latest operating system version, it should also be able to run iOS 27) on Monday as a free update.