Porsche’s Infotainment “Upgrade” — If You Wanna Call It That
Alright, here we go again. Porsche — the company that makes six-figure sports cars for people who really love reminding you they own one — just announced some upgrades to their in-car tech for the 2026 lineup. We’re talking Taycan, 911, Panamera, and Cayenne here.
Now, when you hear “upgrade,” you think, “Sweet, new tech, maybe some futuristic stuff!” But hold onto your overpriced driving gloves — because while they’re slapping in some new bells and whistles, they somehow managed to completely sidestep actual innovation where it counts: Apple’s next-gen CarPlay. Yeah, the thing they were supposed to roll out with this very car. Spoiler alert: it ain’t here.
PCM Is Getting a Makeover… Sorta
The new Porsche Communication Management system — that’s “PCM” for the cool kids — is getting what they call “more responsive software.”
That’s corporate speak for “we fixed what should’ve worked better three years ago.” It also gets the Porsche App Center, straight from the new Macan Electric. So now you’ve got “direct access to a large number of apps” — or in other words, stuff you’ve been using on your phone for a decade is now on your dashboard. Congrats.
Also, don’t get it twisted — the Taycan and the rest of the 2026 crew still run on that good ol’ MIB3 platform from 2022. Not Android Automotive like the fancy new Macan. Nope. They’re not ready to commit to that kind of tech relationship just yet.
Here’s a refresher on Android Automotive OS, if you’re wondering what Porsche didn’t use.
Alexa’s Moving In — Whether You Like It or Not
So now your car has Alexa. Yeah, that Alexa. The one that’s been accidentally ordering cat food and mishearing you for years.
Porsche is tossing it in along with their own voice assistant called “Voice Pilot.” Sounds futuristic, right? It’s not clear if this Alexa is the new AI-powered version Amazon announced back in February, or just the same old digital butler with a fancier name tag.
With Alexa, you can play music, make shopping lists, and even open your garage door — assuming your Wi-Fi doesn’t crap out halfway through.
Oh, and Porsche is being generous (finally) by tossing in 10 years of Porsche Connect service standard. That’s their fancy way of making sure your infotainment system doesn’t feel like a potato by year two.
CarPlay and Android Auto? Still the Same Old Story
Remember when Apple teased that next-gen, all-encompassing CarPlay that was supposed to take over your entire dashboard like a digital James Bond interface? Yeah, that was supposed to show up in this Porsche.
But instead? We get the same old CarPlay and same old Android Auto. No next-gen stuff, no dashboard domination, just the same mirroring tech you’ve had since that iPhone with the home button. Porsche didn’t even mention the delay — they just kinda ghosted it like a bad Tinder date.
And get this — other EV brands like Tesla and Rivian don’t even bother with CarPlay. They’re like, “Why mirror your phone when you can just live inside our walled garden forever?” Check out Rivian’s system here, if you’re curious how the competition’s playing it.
Dolby Atmos: Because You Need 3D Sound to Hear Waze Yell “Turn Left”
The final cherry on this infotainment sundae? Dolby Atmos support. Yeah, now your Porsche can blast music like you’re in the middle of a Coldplay concert — assuming you shelled out for the premium Bose setup.
They say it’s “immersive” and “spatial.” I say it’s what audiophiles pretend they can hear while everyone else is just trying to get from Target to Trader Joe’s.
So When Can You Get One of These “Upgraded” Beauties?
The 2026 Porsches are available for order now, and they’ll start showing up in the U.S. around late summer 2025. Just enough time to forget how annoyed you were about the missing CarPlay.
Final Thoughts?
Porsche’s new infotainment system is like a gourmet meal where the chef forgot the main ingredient. Sure, Alexa and Dolby Atmos are nice — but skipping the big, hyped CarPlay update? That’s just annoying. Especially when you’re dropping six figures. Porsche, you’re better than this… or at least we thought you were.
Let me know when the tech finally catches up to the price tag. Until then, I’ll be over here yelling at my car like it’s 2016.
