Lexus today announced that CarPlay will be a standard feature in the all-new 2019 UX crossover in the United States, marking its first confirmed vehicle with support for Apple's in-car software platform.
CarPlay and Amazon Alexa, but not Android Auto, will be available through the vehicle's Enform 2.0 system. Lexus said the CarPlay implementation will be wired, so the iPhone must be connected via USB cable, but it hasn't specified how large the touchscreen will be or provided other details about the system.
Lexus and its parent company Toyota are among the last of the major automakers to support CarPlay, after having initially chosen the open source platform SmartDeviceLink in partnership with Ford and Livio.
Toyota reversed course in January, starting with the 2019 Avalon, and CarPlay will be a standard feature in the 2019 Corolla Hatchback as well. The forthcoming 2019 Camry and 2019 Sienna will also likely feature CarPlay given the 2018 models of those vehicles are already equipped with Toyota's Entune 3.0 system.
Toyota and Lexus plan to expand CarPlay availability to several other 2019 model year vehicles. A spokesperson for Toyota told MacRumors that it doesn't have plans to support the platform in pre-2019 vehicles at this time.
Lexus is debuting the 2019 UX at the New York International Auto Show later this week. The vehicle is expected to go on sale at dealerships across the United States in December. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.
There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
I love what Toyota has done with the hybrid drivetrain technology and engineering in other areas, but good god their latest cars are fugly beyond belief.
I love what Toyota has done with the hybrid drivetrain technology and engineering in other areas, but good god their latest cars are fugly beyond belief.
Yup; these toyotas really got hit with an ugly stick.
I love what Toyota has done with the hybrid drivetrain technology and engineering in other areas, but good god their latest cars are fugly beyond belief.
Yup; these toyotas really got hit with an ugly stick.
Absolutely the ugliest car I've ever seen.
Yup, I agree with all of you, Lexus was actually really nice before, that grille, can't believe they actually released such a fugly car.
The upcoming Supra, on the other hand, looks stunning.
Indeed, it does. I want one.
Seems like I have a different taste. I'll take an European 'supercar' design any day over this.
Interesting that is excludes Android Auto, but includes Alexa and Car Play. Also, I do not like the ‘plastic look’ around the wheel wells either in the above model. Cheapens the appeal to Lexus.
