Apple's shiny new CarPlay Ultra promised to transform your entire dashboard into an iPhone-powered command center. But three years after its grand debut, most automakers are delivering a collective "thanks, but no thanks" to Cupertino's most ambitious in-car takeover yet. What you need to know: Apple's next-gen CarPlay goes way beyond mirroring your phone to control A/C, speedometer, and radio — but major brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volvo are saying "don't invade our systems." Let's break down why this battle for your dashboard matters — and what it means for your next car purchase. What exactly is CarPlay Ultra trying to take over? Think of regular CarPlay as a polite houseguest that sits quietly on your infotainment screen, letting you navigate with Apple Maps and skip Spotify tracks. CarPlay Ultra? It wants to redecorate your entire cockpit. Apple describes it as bringing "the best of iPhone and the best of the car together for a deeply integrated experience" — meaning...more
