If you drive a Bentley built between 2012 and 2019, your car has never had Apple CarPlay or Android Auto — until now. Bentley has launched an official infotainment retrofit for its second-generation Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur models, bringing modern smartphone connectivity to cars that predate it entirely. The upgrade is available through Bentley retailers, and it replaces the old infotainment system with a new 9.7-inch touchscreen.
It is a notable move for a brand that rarely looks backwards. Owners of these cars have had to rely on the original infotainment system — or aftermarket units — for more than a decade. Now they can get wireless CarPlay and Android Auto from Bentley itself, with a system the company’s own design team helped develop.
Key Takeaways
- Which cars qualify: Second-generation Bentley Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur models built between 2012 and 2019.
- What you get: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via Bluetooth, plus a wired USB-A option in the centre console that also charges your phone.
- The screen: A new 9.7-inch touchscreen with 2K resolution, replacing the old infotainment system and the physical heater controls.
- More than phone mirroring: Voice controls for calls, music through Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify, and improved navigation with 2D and 3D guidance, points of interest and speed limit information.
- The catch: Bentley has not revealed the price or how long the fitting takes, and the heater controls move from physical buttons to the touchscreen.
What the Retrofit Actually Adds
The headline feature is smartphone connectivity. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect wirelessly over Bluetooth, so the phone can stay in a pocket or bag, or wired through a USB-A port in the centre console — which doubles as a phone charger. Once connected, owners can use a wide range of smartphone apps through the touchscreen, make and receive calls using voice controls, and play music stored on the phone through the car’s existing audio equipment, including Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify.
Navigation gets a meaningful upgrade too. The new system offers 2D and 3D route guidance, points of interest and integrated speed limit information, and its maps can be updated — so the system should stay relevant for longer than the one it replaces.
Bentley says the system was developed alongside its design team, with graphics inspired by the company’s latest technology, so it is meant to complement the cabin rather than look like an aftermarket add-on. That matters in cars where the interior is a large part of the point.
The Trade-Off: Physical Buttons Are Gone
There is one compromise worth knowing about. The new touchscreen occupies the space previously used for the physical heater controls, which means heating and climate functions now live behind digital buttons on the screen. For drivers who like to adjust the temperature by feel without looking down, that is a real change.
It is also a change many drivers say they do not want. A recent What Car? survey found that 85% of motorists want more physical buttons in their cars, with only 7% preferring touchscreen buttons. Bentley owners considering the retrofit will have to decide whether modern connectivity is worth giving up the old heater dials.
Who It Is For — and Who It Is Not
The retrofit covers the second-generation Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur — the models built from 2012 to 2019. Cars built after that point already had full smartphone connectivity as standard, so they do not need it. Owners of even earlier Bentleys are not covered either, though Bentley notes they can use aftermarket audio systems for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
What Bentley has not said yet is the price, or how long the work takes at a retailer. For a brand whose owners are used to paying for bespoke work, the cost may not be the deciding factor — but it is still the missing piece of the story. Until Bentley publishes pricing, the retrofit is an interesting option with an unknown bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Bentley models can get the CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit?
Second-generation Bentley Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur models built between 2012 and 2019. The upgrade is available through Bentley retailers.
Is the Bentley CarPlay retrofit wireless?
Yes. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, or wired through a USB-A connection in the centre console, which also charges your phone.
What screen does the Bentley retrofit use?
A 9.7-inch touchscreen with 2K resolution. It replaces the existing infotainment system and the physical heater controls.
How much does the Bentley infotainment upgrade cost?
Bentley has not disclosed the price or how long the fitting takes. It is available through Bentley retailers, with pricing yet to be announced.
Does the retrofit remove the physical heater controls?
Yes. The new touchscreen occupies the space previously used for the physical heater controls, so heating and climate are controlled through digital buttons on the screen.
Sources: What Car?, “Older Bentleys can now have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto retrofitted”, Nov 11, 2026 — whatcar.com; Driven Car Guide, “Bentley adds CarPlay and Android Auto to older models”, Nov 11, 2026 — drivencarguide.co.nz
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