TL;DR
Bentley has announced an infotainment upgrade for second-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur models, adding a 9.7-inch, 2K touchscreen with wired and wireless phone projection. The retrofit removes many existing dashboard controls, including most climate buttons and the CD player; Bentley has not disclosed its price.
Bentley has announced a new infotainment upgrade for second-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur models, replacing their older systems with a 9.7-inch, 2K touchscreen. The retrofit adds wired and wireless phone projection and updated navigation, but it also moves most climate functions to the screen and removes several physical controls, including the CD player. The price has not been disclosed.
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The upgrade targets second-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur cars, whose factory infotainment systems predate Apple CarPlay in these models. The Drive reports that Bentley introduced CarPlay with the third-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur in 2019. The older system is described in the report as comparatively small and limited, with laggy operation and less precise responses.
Bentley says the new display has a 2K (1440p) resolution, “impressively fast processor speeds” and “the latest navigation mapping.” It supports wired and wireless phone projection. The report does not specify which phone-projection platforms are supported, nor does it list installation details or the full set of compatible model years.
The replacement changes the dashboard layout as well as the screen. Most climate settings—including temperature, fan speed and airflow direction—move to the touchscreen. The CD player and much of the existing button-and-knob panel are removed. Some physical controls remain: switches for air conditioning, window and mirror defrosting, a navigation shortcut and apparent voice control, plus seat heating and ventilation controls located near the shifter. The report also identifies two retained knobs, for audio volume and radio tuning.
A Bigger Screen, Fewer Controls
The upgrade presents owners with a practical tradeoff, not just a newer display. Better phone connectivity, navigation and screen performance may make an older luxury car feel more current, but drivers who use direct climate controls would have to operate those settings through a touchscreen instead. The change could affect ease of use while driving, though the source material provides no testing or owner feedback on how the new interface performs in practice.
It also reflects a wider design tension in car interiors: digital systems can add features without replacing the vehicle, while physical switches offer direct access to frequently used functions. Here, Bentley is offering owners an option rather than announcing a redesign of new cars. Whether the balance works for buyers will depend on their priorities and on the retrofit’s eventual price.
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Older Bentleys Gain Phone Projection
The second-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur arrived before Apple CarPlay was added to the third-generation versions in 2019, according to The Drive. Owners of the earlier cars therefore have an opportunity to add modern phone projection without moving to a newer model. The factory screens already had touchscreen functionality, but the report describes them as small and limited compared with the announced replacement.
The Drive’s report frames the announcement against growing interest in retaining physical controls in cars, and says automakers have acknowledged that preference. It does not cite specific surveys or provide data on customer demand. Its central point is the particular compromise in Bentley’s retrofit: a larger, more capable display comes with the removal of much of the original climate-control panel.
““Impressively fast processor speeds””
— Bentley, as quoted in The Drive
Price and Retrofit Details Awaited
Bentley has not disclosed the upgrade’s price, and the source report does not give an order date, installation timeline or availability by market. It is also unclear which production years and specific vehicle configurations qualify, or whether owners can retain any of the controls removed by the retrofit.
The report does not provide customer reactions, independent performance tests or details about how climate settings are arranged in the new interface. Bentley’s claims about processor speed and navigation are attributed company statements, not independently verified results in the source material. The precise phone-projection platforms and any software-update arrangements are also unspecified.
Owners Await Cost and Compatibility
The next useful details would be Bentley’s price, launch timing and eligibility list for second-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur cars. Those details will help owners judge the cost against the added connectivity and the loss of physical controls. Until Bentley releases them, buyers cannot assess the full financial or practical tradeoff.
Owners considering the retrofit will also need confirmation from Bentley or an authorized dealer about compatibility with their individual cars and how installation affects existing equipment. No customer response or sales information is included in the announcement as reported by The Drive.
Key Questions
Which Bentley models are covered by the infotainment upgrade?
The announcement covers second-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur models. The source report does not specify the eligible production years or configurations.
What does the new system add?
Bentley says it has a 9.7-inch, 2K touchscreen, faster processing, updated navigation mapping and wired and wireless phone projection.
Which physical controls are removed?
Most climate settings move to the touchscreen, and the CD player is removed. Some switches and controls remain, including defrosting, air conditioning, seat heating and ventilation, and knobs for volume and radio tuning.
How much will the retrofit cost?
Bentley has not announced a price in the information reported by The Drive.
Does the upgrade include Apple CarPlay?
The system supports wired and wireless phone projection, but the source report does not identify the supported platforms by name. It notes that Bentley added CarPlay to the third-generation Continental GT and Flying Spur in 2019.
Source: thedrive.com
