Bentley retailers are now offering a factory-backed infotainment retrofit for second-generation Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur models built between 2012 and 2019, adding wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to cars now up to a decade old.
The upgrade is fitted through the dealer network rather than delivered as a software update, and it replaces both the original console screen and the physical climate controls with a single touchscreen. Pricing has not been published, so owners will need a quote from their retailer to know what the swap costs for their car.
Which cars can get the retrofit
The retrofit covers second-generation cars from the 2012 to 2019 model years. That window takes in the Continental GT and GT Convertible from their 2012 redesign through 2017, and the Flying Spur from its 2014 debut through 2019.
Bentley designed the replacement screen to match the design language of its current lineup, so the cabin does not look like it is wearing a dealer-fit accessory. The brand has already reworked connectivity in newer interior concepts and detailed how passenger-facing displays work on current models; this retrofit is the first sanctioned route back into cars already a decade old.
Screen, phone mirroring and navigation
The centrepiece is a 9.7-inch touchscreen with 2K resolution. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto run wirelessly over Bluetooth or through a wired USB-A port in the console, which also doubles as a phone charger. Calls, contacts and media run through the touchscreen or voice commands, and bass, treble and balance can be tuned from the same interface.
The radio is upgraded too, with improved DAB+ where these cars previously had DAB, plus FM, AM and SiriusXM for the US market. Navigation has been rebuilt from scratch with updated mapping, 2D and 3D route guidance, points of interest and speed-limit displays, and Bentley says the system can accept future map updates.
The catch: the climate dials go
The physical heater knobs are removed permanently and climate settings move into the touchscreen alongside everything else. That leaves the centre console noticeably cleaner, but anyone who valued the tactile feel of the factory-original layout loses it in exchange for the modern features.
For drivers weighing up whether to keep an older Continental GT or Flying Spur, the retrofit is the cheaper path to modern phone mirroring and navigation than trading in, provided the dealer quote lands on the right side of the car's value. The loss of physical climate controls is the one part of the package buyers cannot undo later.
