Even as CarPlay 2 work keeps chugging along, Apple has been slowly adding new features to the existing CarPlay too. Last fall CarPlay got some Apple Intelligence enhancements, and recently Ford EV owners gained NACS routing. When iOS 18.4 arrives, there are three more new CarPlay features coming with it.#1: Third row of app iconsOne of the complicated things about CarPlay is that it needs to adapt to a wide range of vehicle infotainment systems.Fortunately, iOS 18.4 brings a nice enhancement for vehicles that have especially large displays.Users throughout the beta have found that on certain screen sizes, CarPlay gains a third row of app icons where it only supported two before. This extra screen real estate for apps should pair nicely with this next CarPlay addition#2: Sports appsApple has made a new API available to app developers that will bring sports apps to CarPlay. Starting in iOS 18.4, apps that show sports scores can integrate with CarPlay. This way, you can stay on top of how your favorite teams doing even while in the car.It could take some time for third-party sports apps to officially add CarPlay support, but heres hoping we get a CarPlay update for the Apple Sports app as soon as iOS 18.4 launches to all users.#3: Default navigation in EUiOS 18.4 comes with a long-awaited new option for EU users: the ability to set a default navigation app.Thats right, rather than relying on Apple Maps, users in the EU can set alternatives like Google Maps as their default.This change should have a huge impact on the CarPlay experience. Why? Because it means youll be able to tell Siri, Take me to X and the assistant will use your chosen navigation app to route you. Quick, seamless, and hassle-freejust like voice computing in the car should be.CarPlay iOS 18.4 features: wrap-upCarPlays latest updates may not be for everyoneif your vehicles display is small, and youre outside the EU, this list shrinks very quicklybut theyre welcome nonetheless.While we continue waiting for CarPlay 2, anything Apple can do to continue improving the existing CarPlay is a win in my book. Seen in that light, iOS 18.4 is a solid step down the right path.What are your thoughts on iOS 18.4s new CarPlay features? Let us know in the comments.Best CarPlay accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel