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
Ian Schmidt
Enough people had bad experiences that they're doing something about it :)
R
https://lexus2.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10174/p/190,1684

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.
krew
Very interesting detail!
krew
krew

Lexus to Bring Apple CarPlay to Select Older Models
[​IMG]

Some LC/LS/NX/RC/RC F could get iPhone functionality.
View the original article post
Deusex
Android Auto for RX, please!
yiantony
It's good to see that they are testing these out. They should simply offer infotainment units upgrade. Btw it's funny to see them keeping a distance from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and now since AC is integrated, you can see Apple CarPlay on pretty much all the Toyota car ads on Instagram. They know how important this thing is.
G
Hopefully they'll apply the same backwards compatibility for Enform 2.0 with Android Auto!
krew
guanche2k9
Hopefully they'll apply the same backwards compatibility for Enform 2.0 with Android Auto!
I have no inside info, but I wonder if that's why there's a delay until the summer. Surely they know if Apple CarPlay works or not on the older models, so maybe they're just waiting to do Android Auto at the same time.
Tragic Bronson
yiantony
It's good to see that they are testing these out. They should simply offer infotainment units upgrade. Btw it's funny to see them keeping a distance from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and now since AC is integrated, you can see Apple CarPlay on pretty much all the Toyota car ads on Instagram. They know how important this thing is.
There's quite a few pissed off 2018 Camry owners that are mad that their Entune system isn't getting the update where they can get ACP lol.
G
spwolf
it is also impossible to use your 8 year phone with new features, so thats a moot point. Heck, even 3 year old is a problem.

If manufacturers would follow Apple model, then you would throw away your car after 3-4 years because it would take 15 seconds to turn on vehicle.
My iPad 3 has the last version of iOS that was released for it several years ago and it is slower than an iPad 1 with the old skeumorphic interface. I sure as hell don't want to see that happening for the infotainment on my car, because it would annoy me, and it would also be more of a distraction and possibly have a higher chance of causing the user to get into an accident.
Ian Schmidt
GNS
My iPad 3 has the last version of iOS that was released for it several years ago and it is slower than an iPad 1 with the old skeumorphic interface. I sure as hell don't want to see that happening for the infotainment on my car, because it would annoy me, and it would also be more of a distraction and possibly have a higher chance of causing the user to get into an accident.
iOS 12 made phones up to 5 years old *faster*. This had the effect of reducing Apple's quarterly sales and causing a panic in the media and on Wall Street, you may have heard about it a few weeks back. But it's good for customers, and long-term good for Apple.

I