While we wait for more details on the rumored Apple Car to be released, Cupertino is said to be working on a major expansion of Apple CarPlay's capabilities that could allow it to control most of the car.

Bloomberg reports that Apple is working on something called "IronHeart," which could essentially allow the iPhone to access in-car systems such as air conditioning, speedometer, and radio.

In other words, Apple could be pushing the limits of CarPlay, a system built to allow people to use apps on their phones without distracting them from the road ahead.

Bloomberg's sources claim that IronHeart can access controls, sensors, and settings in the car. These include temperature and humidity readings, climate control, audio and speaker settings, seat and armrest controls, and information on the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge cluster.

These would turn CarPlay into something that could be used throughout the car, bridging the gap between the driver's iPhone and the car itself. Of course, for such a scenario to happen, automakers would need to buy into the idea, and it is not clear what kind of in-car software would be required.

In any case, this would be another example of Apple's entry into the automotive industry: in 2017, Apple allowed automakers to begin creating CarPlay-enabled apps to control GPS, radio, and climate controls, and in 2019 added support for secondary display screens.

There is also CarKey, which allows users to unlock their car with an iPhone or Apple Watch. However, these features are not widely available and only a few automakers actually support them.

However, Apple is not alone in its quest for automotive technology and software. Google is already expanding Android's presence on the road with its Android Automotive OS in certain vehicles. However, the Android Automotive OS actually replaces regular in-car infotainment software and does not function alongside infotainment software.

We must avoid a situation where Google and Apple each launch competing in-car operating systems, forcing car users and automakers to choose between them. After all, one of the advantages of Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay is that cars can (and do) support both.

This is pure speculation, but if Apple is indeed preparing to make CarPlay look bigger in cars, it could be a sign that Cupertino's automotive efforts will be more on the software side than on building actual cars. However, the jury is still out on this, and the Apple Car rumor continues to coast.

Not surprisingly, the Apple Car will feature the tightest possible integration of the iPhone and in-car systems. However, if the rumors are true, it appears that IronHeart could fill a gap in the connectivity chain much earlier than Apple Car's rumored 2024-2026 release date. That is, if automakers are on board.