Bentley retailers can now fit a 9.7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and updatable navigation to second-generation Continental GT, GT Convertible and Flying Spur models.
Few things date a luxury car faster than its screen. Bentley has clearly noticed, and it now offers owners of its second-generation grand tourers an official route out of their original cabin tech.
The Bentley Infotainment Upgrade suits Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur models built between 2012 and 2019. Bentley retailers fit it, and the new unit replaces both the original console screen and the physical heater controls.
A Bigger, Sharper Screen
The centrepiece is a 9.7-inch touchscreen with 2K resolution. Bentley claims a dramatic improvement in clarity and calls the processor’s response to commands state of the art. Those are the company’s own descriptions, but anyone who has prodded an older head unit will appreciate a quicker one.
The graphics draw on Bentley’s latest models, and the brand says its design team helped integrate the unit into the existing cabin. In plain terms, the goal is an upgrade that looks like it came from the factory, not from an aftermarket catalogue.
Smartphone Integration Arrives
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both feature, connecting via Bluetooth or wired USB-A ports in the centre console. Those ports also charge the phone. Nice, even if the connector choice feels a little old-school.
Calls work through the touchscreen or by voice command, and the system displays contact lists and recent calls. Music stored on a phone plays through the car’s audio, with control over bass, treble and balance.
Radio gets attention too. The unit includes an improved DAB+ tuner where DAB was previously fitted, plus FM, AM and, for US cars only, SXM.
Navigation That Can Keep Up
The integrated sat nav carries the latest mapping data, with route guidance in 2D or 3D views. It also shows speed limit information. More importantly, owners can update the mapping. That should stop the system ageing as quickly as the original did.
The Trade-Off
There is one catch for traditionalists. Climate settings move onto the touchscreen, replacing the physical controls. Bentley says this gives the centre console a sleek, uncluttered look.
Shifting climate functions into a screen is a familiar industry habit, and some drivers prefer a proper switch for the heater. Here, at least, owners choose whether to make that swap.
Why It Matters
Bentley’s announcement does not include pricing. Even so, the logic is easy to follow. These cars still have plenty to offer in engineering and craftsmanship, but their screens have aged far faster than their leather.
A manufacturer-backed retrofit lets owners keep a 2012–2019 Bentley comfortable for daily use with modern phone tech. For a brand building cars meant to last decades, supporting the older ones also keeps those owners connected to its retailers long after the original sale.
