# The Future of CarPlay in 2025 with iOS 26
It turns out that a new CarPlay experience in 2025 doesn’t require an Aston Martin. That’s because iOS 26 introduces a revitalized interface and several new features for CarPlay that everyone can enjoy.
## Liquid Glass Aesthetic
The most apparent update is a new theme that resembles Apple’s Liquid Glass design language seen on the iPhone. In CarPlay, Liquid Glass is visible in app presentation options, buttons, and various interface components.
CarPlay icons now accommodate the following appearance modes: Default, Dark, and Clear. Clear offers a shiny glass-like appearance with settings for Light, Dark, or Auto. My initial favorite is the newly introduced Clear Dark option.
Widgets can now be featured on CarPlay, including those from third-party iPhone applications that don’t have dedicated CarPlay versions. Widgets on CarPlay closely resemble the StandBy widgets on iPhone, as they utilize the same technology.
CarPlay widget stacks can be customized via the iPhone in the Settings app under General > CarPlay > My Car > Widgets. Beyond selecting which app widgets to display, users can turn widgets on/off, switch wallpaper on/off, manage widget suggestions on/off, and control rotation settings.
In my instance, a single widget stack is supported. However, systems with larger screens may have additional stacks that can be adjusted independently. Apple provides an illustrative example.
With the introduction of widgets, the primary app grid is now located on the third CarPlay home screen. Widgets are featured on the first, leftmost home screen. The Dashboard is second and directly to the left of the app grid display. The app grid begins on the third page and expands according to how many CarPlay applications are installed.
## Live Activities in the Dashboard
Regarding the Dashboard, the second home screen is where tiles for Live Activities will be displayed when active, positioned at the bottom right corner.
Fortunately, Apple demonstrates a Live Activity in use.
## Additional Enhancements
Other modifications involve a revamped Music app that reflects the navigation layout of its iPhone counterpart, support for Tapbacks, and pinned conversations in Messages.
CarPlay—the more intelligent, safer means to utilize iPhone while driving—is used over 600 million times daily, and now with iOS 26, it receives enhancements that make it even more visually appealing and user-friendly. The elegant design offers a new compact view for incoming calls, enabling users to identify who is calling without overlooking crucial details such as upcoming directions. iOS 26 also introduces Tapbacks and pinned conversations to Messages in CarPlay, and with the addition of widgets and Live Activities, users can remain informed without diverting their attention from the road. These improvements also extend to CarPlay Ultra, uniting the finest features of the iPhone with those of the car for a deeply integrated, cohesive experience across all displays.
Here are more visuals provided by Apple that illustrate how CarPlay in iOS 26 looks on various display types.
In conclusion, for the Aston Martin enthusiasts, this is CarPlay Ultra in iOS 26.
