With Apple CarPlay Ultra announced at WWDC 2022, the first car to receive this new integrated CarPlay was Aston Martin in the US and Canada earlier this year. Together with the announcement of support for CarPlay Ultra for Aston Martin, Apple also mentioned Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are interested to support CarPlay Ultra. Last week, several automotive news outlets reported on new information regarding the upcoming Hyundai Ionic 3 model in Europe, while also mentioning Apple CarPlay Ultra for this model. With an expected price within the €35.000 – €45.000 range, the Ionic 3 might be the first affordable car with CarPlay Ultra integrated. While no official announcements are made yet, it looks like Apple CarPlay Ultra is coming to more cars in the coming years.
Hyundai Ionic 3 at IIA Mobility 2025
As mentioned by Top Gear, Hyundai will show their nearly-ready concept of the Ionic 3 at the IIA25 Motor Show in Munich in September. The IIA will take place between 9-14 September. Production is expected to start early 2026. With a 58.3 or 81.4 kWh battery, it will likely have a range up to 587 KM (365 miles). Hyundai also focusses on the technology used in the Ionic 3, as it introduces the Pleos operating system. This will be based on Android Automotive and will have a smartphone-like experience. Pleos Playground is build for developers to create new Apps, which can be published in a dedicated App Market.
Apple CarPlay Ultra with the Ionic 3
Next to Pleos, which will be a fully new infotainment experience, users can also opt for Apple CarPlay Ultra in the Hyundai Ionic 3. With Apple CarPlay Ultra, all screens of the car can be taken over by your connected iPhone. This enables you to fully integrate Apple widgets on your instrument cluster and infotainment system, like various options for your speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and temperature gauge. You can also show information like maps and media from your iPhone, or show specific car-related information like tire pressure.
Apple CarPlay Ultra will most likely also increase the options to add Smart Home related widgets to your car screens, allowing you to more easily control garage doors and other smart home appliances. The option to use widgets with CarPlay has also been introduced to the regular Apple CarPlay with iOS 26, which will officially release in September 2025.
More information on the Hyundai Ionic 3 and details about Apple CarPlay Ultra support will most likely be available next month when Hyundai officially shows the Ionic 3 at IIA25 in Munich. Production is expected to start early 2026 in Turkey, with official availability later in 2026.
