Android Auto, the platform that brings smartphone features to car dashboards, has received a new update, version 17.6, which has been rolling out since September 1, 2026. The most noticeable change is the replacement of the traditional blue icon with a rounded green one, first noticed by APKMirror analyst Artem Russakovskii. This visual update reflects Google's newer Material 3 Expressive design language, which was introduced during the Android Show I/O Edition in May 2025. On Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices that have received the update, the green icon appears in the app selector, and settings menus now include matching green accents, creating a more cohesive look. The update also introduces a new setting called "Taskbar widgets," hinting at the future arrival of widgets on the embedded Android Auto screen. Developers have found evidence of features currently in development, such as a "Do Not Disturb" toggle in the Quick Settings section, which would allow users to silence notifications directly from the embedded notification panel. Another feature includes a weather widget with an Easter egg known as "Jimothy Mode." This references a raccoon named Jimothy, who gained internet fame in Seattle in July 2026. When a specific feature flag, SystemUi__jimothy_mode_enabled, is manually activated, the raccoon appears on the music widget with a temperature display, and the background animates based on weather conditions. These new features follow improvements in version 17.5, which aimed to stabilize the system by addressing issues like random disconnections and freezes reported by drivers. The 3D navigation system and speedometer continue to be rolled out, with the Immersive Navigation feature—offering detailed 3D maps with buildings, traffic lights, and roadways—becoming more visible among tech enthusiasts. The integrated speedometer, previously only available to beta testers, is now being expanded to more users. However, Google has not provided a clear timeline for when these features will be available to the general public, as their rollout depends on cooperation with car manufacturers and hardware compatibility. According to data from Google's I/O 2026 event, Android Auto is compatible with over 250 million vehicles worldwide. Version 17.6 is expected to reach all supported devices by the end of September 2026, marking the latest step in the platform’s ongoing evolution.