Polestar expands its CarPlay support with big new features as GM ditches it altogether

The Polestar 2's cockpit with CarPlay running

(Image credit: Polestar)

Amid the bombshell news that GM is ditching CarPlay altogether, Swedish electric car builder Polestar is going in the opposite direction.

A new software update is going to greatly expand existing CarPlay support on the Polestar 2, the company has confirmed. And while CarPlay was already available this new round of improvements will put features like Apple Maps right in front of the driver to avoid the need to take their eyes off the road when navigating.

The new update also includes the introduction of a new YouTube app, with streaming video available whenever the Polestar 2 is parked.

CarPlay, but better

A press release coming out of Gothenburg, Sweden, details exactly what drivers can expect. At the top of the CarPlay list is the projection of calls and Apple Maps into the car's driver's display, making it easier and safer to follow directions while on the road. No longer will drivers of Polestar 2 EVs have to look at the car's main display to see upcoming turns.

On top of that, Polestar also confirmed that it is adding new integration with the phone and media playback tile that will put more data right on the home screen, while call handling using the steering wheel buttons is also being added.

All of this will be available as part of the P2.9 software update that will be available over-the-air to existing Polestar 2 owners. The new update will also be installed by default on all Polestar 2 cars that are built from here on out.

Polestar also says that "a significant update to Polestar’s Range Assistant app now allows drivers to monitor their energy consumption over the previous 20, 40 or 100 km, with real-time information enabling them to adjust their driving style to improve efficiency." It goes on to say that "a revised algorithm for the projected range shown by the app is able to account for changes in environmental and other factors that influence efficiency."

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.