If you had told me a year ago that my Fisker Ocean would feel like a brand-new car in 2026, I would have laughed you out of the driveway. We’ve all been through the “software doldrums,” but thanks to the OV Loop lifeline and the leap to OS 2.5 and 2.6, I’m not just driving; I’m practically giddy.
We’ve moved past the “Will it work today?” phase and entered the “Look what it can do now!” era. If you’re still sitting on an older build, here is the breakdown of the magic that just hit my driveway.
OS 2.5: The Foundation of Fun
Before we could run, we had to walk—or at least glide more efficiently. The 2.5 update was the ultimate “quality of life” patch. It felt like the car finally went to therapy and sorted out its internal conflicts.
The Highlights:
- Torque Vectoring: Everyone is excited about this. Except me, as I have no idea what is happening, other than the performance feels a little smoother. Sort of.
- Ambient Light Sync: Finally, the lights inside actually match the mood outside (or at least the mood of my playlist).
- Persistent Regen: It actually remembers your settings! No more resetting your preferences every time you hop in. And since I don’t makes no difference to me, but others love it! Yay them!
- Extended Standby: We went from a 10-minute energy standby to a 2-hour window. This means the car doesn’t “fall asleep” the second you run into a gas station for a snack.
- Dark/bright mode toggle: Now I can adjust to have the screen switch between Light and Dark modes. Perfect for when driving Uber all day, the screen darkens on its own.
OS 2.6: The Holy Grail (CarPlay is HERE!)
Then came the big one. The 2.6 update is the “Game Changer” we’ve been shouting into the void about for years.
The Headline: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are officially in the building.
I can’t overstate this: having the Uber app and Apple Maps natively on that gorgeous 17.1-inch screen is a religious experience. No more clunky proprietary navigation or awkward phone mounts blocking the vents. It’s seamless, it’s fast, and it makes the Ocean feel like the $70k flagship it was always meant to be.
CarPlay apps available to me from apps on my phone:
- Uber
- Maps: Google, Apple, Uber (for use with the app)
- Phone: (same as standard Fisker app, nothing new here)
- Texts: Messages, WhatsApp
- This displays all contact, and then will play back the latest unread or unheard texts. Cannot view texts
- Music: Spotify, iHeart, TuneIn, Pandora, Karafun (music only, no lyrics)
- Charge apps: Electrify America, Plugshare, ChargePoint
- And various others, that I really don’t use
Plus, this update brought us Hollywood Mode enhancements—so while I’m waiting for the charge at Stateline next time, I’ll be catching up with qualifying from Formula 1, or more likely, watch a quick snippet for Bravo Housewives. I found myself sitting in the driveway for twenty minutes yesterday just scrolling through the new interface and the new apps available and laughing. Karafun! The Karafun karaoke app is CarPlay compliant. But damn! It doesn’t display lyrics. This is why I need to get this screen mirroring working. It’s the kind of joy only a tech-deprived EV owner can truly understand.
The New OV Loop App: My Remote Control Life
Hand-in-hand with these OS jumps is the upgraded v1.2 OV Loop app. It has turned my phone into a literal magic wand.
I’m a “yard work” guy. On weekends, I’m usually covered in dirt, wrestling with a leaf blower. In the past, if I needed to move the car or grab a pair of shears from the trunk, I had to do the “muddy boot shuffle” into the house to find my key fob.
Now? I just pull out my phone (with my one clean finger) and:
- Unlock/Lock: Tapped and done.
- Preconditioning: I can start the AC from the garden so I’m not stepping into a 120°F cabin.
- Phone as Key: I can move the car short distances right from the app. Actually, I can move it long distances too!
- Drive and 12v battery: Now I can see Range, Charge and my 12v battery health on the phone
- Flash Headlights: This is only crazy when you don’t have it. Parking in garages in Vegas is so annoying. somehow, a truck always parks next to me, and then I can’t see my car from the narrow parking rows at Bellagio. But now I flash the lights, and thar’ she blow!
I actually caught myself giggling like a kid when I moved the car six feet to avoid the sprinkler without ever touching the door handle. My neighbors probably think I’ve bought a haunted SUV, but I prefer to think of it as “living in the future.”
Final Thoughts
We’ve waited a long time to get here. The 2.5 and 2.6 updates via OV Loop haven’t just fixed bugs; they’ve unlocked the car’s soul. I’m back to streaming, I’m back to navigating with ease, and I’m definitely back to loving this ride. And as if it couldn’t get any better, here comes the v2.7 release in April 2026!