Lexus to Bring Apple CarPlay to Select Older Models

Posted by Kevin on February 26th, 2019

Lexus is expected to bring Apple CarPlay functionality to older vehicles equipped with the Enform 2.0 infotainment system — from the Lexus USA website:

Lexus remains committed to enhancing our in-vehicle multimedia guest experience. We are currently conducting an internal trial for Apple CarPlay® compatibility in some 2018 LC, 2018 LS, 2018/19 NX, 2018 RC, 2018/19 RC F, and 2019 ES (non-navigation).

At this time, we do not have any additional information we can share but anticipate providing further details to the applicable guests in Summer 2019.

We reached out to Lexus USA PR, and they confirmed the ongoing tech testing. This is great news, as the lack of backwards compatibility was the only disappointment to Lexus adopting CarPlay. More information to follow, but owners of the vehicles outlined above now have another reason to look forward to summer.

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Comments
L
As long as it brings more customers to Lexus/Toyota. At least infotainment will not be what makes worse car better than the better car.
mikeavelli
Better late than never!
krew
mikeavelli
Better late than never!
Now that's a nice positive attitude! :D
ThePenguin
Awesome! Love it!
Tragic Bronson
Guess the brass at TMC got tired of hooting and hollering...glad they are finally listening to customers. My guess that it will start with the models with the younger customer bases first.
S
  • S
    senar
  • January 17, 2018
Hopefully Android Auto is next!
Gecko
From what I heard, it took Toyota and Apple an unusually long time to reach a privacy agreement. Not sure how their negotiations are going with Google...
Joaquin Ruhi
Tragic Bronson
My guess that it will start with the models with the younger customer bases first.
Common sense would say so, but, going by model change cycles (not to mention Avalon debuting Apple CarPlay for Toyota), it stands to reason that its fraternal twin, the old-mannish ES will be among the first if not the first Lexus to feature Apple CarPlay.
Ian Schmidt
So it definitely won't be in this year's LS500s? That's disappointing.
ThePenguin
Ian Schmidt
So it definitely won't be in this year's LS500s? That's disappointing.
It's a missed opportunity, for sure. Hopefully it'll show up in the new ES.
meth.ix
I got a feeling the absence of Android Auto has something to do with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant being fierce rivals at this point. Siri isn't really good enough when compared lol.
Gecko
I hereby formally request a massive media re-review of the LS 500 once it receives Apply CarPlay.

:)
J
senar
Hopefully Android Auto is next!
I'm hoping for the same and crossing my fingers that they figure out how to make it backwards compatible! Current Lexus models as well as models on the Toyota side with Entune 3.0 would benefit immensely from both Apple Car play and Android Auto.
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
Common sense would say so, but, going by model change cycles (not to mention Avalon debuting Apple CarPlay for Toyota), it stands to reason that its fraternal twin, the old-mannish ES will be among the first if not the first Lexus to feature Apple CarPlay.
The new ES will almost definitely be the first Lexus to feature CarPlay. After that, I imagine it will be limited to any other new or updated models that are released this year and existing models with Enform 2.0 -- the 2019 LC, LS, RC and NX.

JUST MY GUESS.
N
"Carplay implementation will be wired..."

^^^ Seriously?? That negates a lot of my potential excitement.
zeusus
Nate Wiener
"Carplay implementation will be wired..."

^^^ Seriously?? That negates a lot of my potential excitement.
Yea thats pretty lame for 2019 MY premium luxury vehicles. And does not mix well at all especially since Lexus has been brushing up on their new strategy of targeting a younger demographic.
krew
Nate Wiener
Carplay implementation will be wired..."

^^^ Seriously?? That negates a lot of my potential excitement.
zeusus
Yea thats pretty lame for 2019 MY premium luxury vehicles. And does not mix well at all especially since Lexus has been brushing up on their new strategy of targeting a younger demographic.
It's worth pointing out that it was Toyota that said CarPlay would be wired. Lexus has yet to debut a vehicle with CarPlay, so it's a little early to judge.
Tragic Bronson
Nate Wiener
"Carplay implementation will be wired..."

^^^ Seriously?? That negates a lot of my potential excitement.
Unfortunately that's the only way to use it now. Same goes for Android Auto.

Hope that future updates to CP will negate the USB cord, but in the meantime, it is what it is.
S
krew
It's worth pointing out that it was Toyota that said CarPlay would be wired. Lexus has yet to debut a vehicle with CarPlay, so it's a little early to judge.
how many cars have wireless CarPlay?
meth.ix
spwolf
how many cars have wireless CarPlay?
Bluetooth pairing.
S
meth.ix
Bluetooth pairing.
according to the web, it is only certain BMW model, and via wifi not bluetooth (too much bandwidth needed?)
Dreski
Hallelujah!!!!
Ian Schmidt
From what I've been able to find, wireless CarPlay is only offered by BMW right now from the factory, and not on all models (BMW also of course makes you pay a monthly fee for it). Several aftermarket head units also support it. Automakers are dragging their feet because it requires hardware changes, not just software.
Ian Schmidt
zeusus
Yea thats pretty lame for 2019 MY premium luxury vehicles. And does not mix well at all especially since Lexus has been brushing up on their new strategy of targeting a younger demographic.
Lexus is in the same situation as Mercedes and Audi here, so it's not like they've greatly flubbed up.
Joaquin Ruhi
spwolf
how many cars have wireless CarPlay?
Your excellent question piqued my curiosity. Unfortunately, my Google search didn't come up with much, except that the latest BMW 5-Series was the first car offered with wireless Apple CarPlay.
GuoxJason
The Apple CarPlay announcement during the Avalon debut made me very hopeful for Android Auto. I suppose I can wait a little longer to see if that will ever materialize. The lack of Android Auto is seriously hindering me from purchasing a new Lexus vehicle - that and the fact that a complete LX overhaul is long overdue.
mikeavelli
Sometimes I don't even connect my bluetooth hahahhaha
zeusus
Ian Schmidt
Lexus is in the same situation as Mercedes and Audi here, so it's not like they've greatly flubbed up.
Yea I get that too though Lexus has specifically put an emphasis on targeting a younger audience by sacrificing the older audience. I don't know if wireless carplay connection is just too expensive for them to consider at this point or perhaps wireless is not their main concern but it is a lackluster approach if younger buyers is their target. I would probably be ok if it was 2018 but 2019 is kind of a stretch.

But I definitely will stand corrected if Lexus does infact go for wireless carplay. I would like to applaud them for it.
meth.ix
Even with CarPlay, it's not going to be very good since it will have to be controlled with the RTI, not touchscreen like other manufacturers.
PeterF
Ian Schmidt
So it definitely won't be in this year's LS500s? That's disappointing.
agreed, reason to wait?

P