• Hyundai’s new Ioniq 3 will reportedly come with Apple CarPlay Ultra
• It would be the next car after the Aston Martin DBX to get access to the software
• This could mean more affordable access to Apple’s powered-up phone-to-infotainment interface

You may not need a $200,000 car from the likes of Aston Martin to access Apple’s CarPlay Ultra in the near future, as Hyundai looks set to bring the interface to its electric cars.

That’s according to Top Gear, which reported that the Ioniq 3, due to be revealed at the Munich Motor Show this month, will support CarPlay Ultra, allowing for deeper integration between a car’s infotainment system and a connected iPhone than the standard erosion of CarPlay offers.

Set to be positioned between Hyundai’s Inster and Kona EVs, the Ioniq 3 is poised to be a compact electric car that comes stuffed with connected tech. Top Gear notes that, like other carmakers, this is all part of Hyundai’s push to equip its cars with software designed to be upgraded throughout their lifetime and can be customized by both car brands and end users with apps, even those buying pre-owned cars.

In many ways, this approach to infotainment software is similar to how smartphones, tablets, and computers operate, with upgrades being rolled out across their lifetime and allowing users a degree of choice and customization with the services and the apps they want.

Ultra infotainment

In the past, infotainment systems would often be outdated by the time a car rolled off the production line and would be hard to upgrade unless the brand offered firmware updates via dealers. Or the car owners opted for third-party aftermarket units.

CarPlay Ultra is notable in this case as it’s been designed to more tightly integrate with the underlying infotainment platform, letting car brands create custom themes in collaboration with Apple that are tailored to each vehicle rather than offering a one-size-fits-all interface.

Currently, CarPlay Ultra can be found in the new Aston Martin DBX, a performance luxury SUV with a hefty price tag. But more car brands, notably those with cheaper vehicles, are set to adopt CarPlay Ultra. And it looks like Hyundai could be one of the front-runners.

As for the Ioniq 3 itself, Top Gear reports it’ll be a front-wheel drive car with a WLTP range of 260 miles and 365 miles from a predicted choice of batteries coming in 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh capacities respectively. A 400-volt charging system is expected. And the car could do the 0-62mph sprint in less than eight seconds.

There’s no word on pricing, but the Kona starts at $24,550, so I’d expect the Ioniq 3 to be more expensive but coming in well below $40,000, given that the Ioniq 5 starts at $42,600; market prices vary a lot, so to keep things simple, I’ve focused on US prices here. Production for the Ioniq 3 is tipped for early next year.

Time will tell if other car makers adopt CarPlay Ultra this year, but don’t expect any big announcements from Apple’s side as it’s surely concentrating on the iPhone 17 launch, which we expect to see on September 9 at the next Apple event.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.