Android Auto 18 is here. At first glance, nothing changes, but big new features are coming

A new version number tempts one to expect a big change, but Android Auto 18 doesn’t offer it yet. For drivers, this means they will still have to wait for the promised full-screen interface with widgets – however, an analysis of the application shows that Google is diligently working on the transformation in the background.

Don’t expect any changes after downloading

Google has been distributing the new version since Tuesday, so far only to beta program participants. According to 9to5Google, the update does not contain any new features you would notice on your car’s display, and is rather a set of minor fixes. The long-awaited light and dark theme switch has not arrived this time either.

More interesting is what lies beneath the surface. The authors of Android Sage disassembled the application and found new graphics named “cielo_launcher” within it. This is apparently intended to serve for opening the application menu in the upcoming interface.

Google is working on a new interface

The designation Cielo has appeared in the Android Auto code since version 15.7 last November. However, it was not certain what it referred to until now. The word “launcher” now suggests that it is the codename for the successor to the Coolwalk interface, which Google deployed in 2023 and which still defines the current form of Android Auto. Even then, the “coolwalk_launcher” graphics first appeared in the code.

The word “cielo” itself means sky in Italian and Spanish. Whether there is any deeper meaning behind the choice of name, no one has explained yet.

Google showed what the new Android Auto will look like in May. The interface will occupy the entire display area, add widgets, and adapt to various screen sizes and whether the driver sits on the left or right. The changes are also heralded by the new green logo, which began reaching users in September.

What’s coming for Gemini and the work profile?

Texts for Gemini personalization, which we wrote about last week, have reappeared in the beta. Among them is now an initial notification that the feature is ready for use in the car. The assistant could thus use data from Gmail or Google Calendar when responding, but what exact information it will see in the car is not yet clear.

Another finding concerns people who have both personal and work accounts on one phone. The application contains new icons for active and paused work profiles. This could mean that work notifications can be turned off directly from the car’s display.

New font and a big cleanup

Android Auto 18 also adds the Google Sans Flex font, which can smoothly change its weight and width. This could make text more readable on screens of various shapes and sizes.

Google has also removed over 200 deprecated elements, including 22 old dialer layouts for making calls and some components of the Coolwalk interface. Cleaning up old code usually precedes the deployment of a new interface version, but no release date has been announced.

Which of the upcoming Android Auto features are you most looking forward to?

Sources: Android Sage, 9to5Google, Android Authority