Apple CarPlay+ debuts in the new 2025 Porsche Taycan

Porsche took the wraps off the updated 2025 Taycan earlier today. The best-selling EV from the performance brand has brought a host of improvements - more power, more range, faster charging being key among those. Meanwhile, the infotainment got its own refresh - Taycan is now the first vehicle to sport the newest version of the in-car infotainment, dubbed Apple CarPlay+.

While both Aston Martin and Porsche previewed the new technology last year, there was little available in terms of details. We knew the Apple CarPlay+ was going to be heavily integrated into the vehicle’s systems, promising an uninterrupted Apple experience and full control of the car through a familiar interface. Courtesy of one of the first reviews of the updated Taycan by Autogefühl, we got a closer look at the new solution.

After linking your iPhone with the vehicle via the Porsche app, the new CarPlay+ becomes available, although somewhat confusingly it is shown under a Porsche logo. Despite the unnecessarily complicated first step, what follows is quite a pleasant experience.

Starting with a completely new screen layout, we have access to all vehicle’s functions. There is no longer a need to fumble for climate controls or ambient lighting - everything now is just a touch away and available on one screen. Simple improvements like the Climate Modes mean one-touch adjustments depending on the needs, complemented with custom programs that are easy to set up.

All the information usually accessed on the iPhone, is now available on the main infotainment screen. The interesting addition is the Coffee App which guides the driver to the nearest coffee shop along the designated route. Navigation now benefits from the option of scenic routes, finding the nearest charging station should be a cinch, and the vehicle records driving statistics - fastest acceleration, highest G, weekly and monthly driving habits, and many, many more.

Apple Music is now fully integrated as well and shares the screen with radio controls - no more fumbling between screens and apps. For now, the Apple CarPlay+ is limited to the main infotainment screen but the company promises with the next update, the software will be able to take control of the instrument cluster and display required info right in the front of the driver.

It’s been a long time coming, but the CarPlay+ seems like a decent step forward in vehicle-phone integration. For many drivers, it will mean no need to learn new interfaces, simply linking an iPhone will bring up the familiar ecosystem. From the short preview, we could already notice the ease of use and swiping between the screen was logical, with all the functions and apps grouped in a way that makes sense - something that many automakers struggle with.

At the moment only Porsche and Aston Martin are bringing the Apple CarPlay+ to its vehicles, there is no word which automakers are going to be next. Hopefully, the list will grow fast as the CarPlay+ seems - at least so far - to be a decent improvement over the current systems, and a step in the right direction.

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