Second-gen Conti GT earns CarPlay upgrade
'Bentley Infotainment Upgrade' brings 2012-19 Continentals interiors into the smartphone era
Such is the seamlessness with which phones have now been integrated into our cars, going back to the old ways can feel very, well, dated. Patchy Bluetooth connections, fiddly menus and trying to remember what on earth an aux lead is are all a bit frustrating in a world where your car can be Siri. It’s especially irksome when some great cars from not long ago become less lovely to use because of old-hat infotainment. Our expectations and requirements have changed, while the cars have stayed the same.
Aftermarket solutions have existed for yonks, and now the OEMs are doing similar, realising that customers might like their cars the 2010s (because it was a great era) and might simply want a screen freshen up. Rather than getting a whole new car that is much more annoying. Following Porsche’s Classic Communication Management there’s now this, Bentley’s Infotainment Upgrade. Offered for all second-gen Continentals from 2012-2019 - Conti GT, GTC and Flying Spur - it brings DAB+, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, wired charging and updated navigation into a 9.7-inch touchscreen. It’s a pretty drastic overhaul for the centre console of the Continental, incorporating the HVAC controls and graphics ‘inspired by Bentley’s latest generation models’ as well, but with buttons retained along the bottom. And how great does that old gealever still look?
Bentley suggests that the Infotainment Upgrade ‘enables owners to enjoy the latest digital technology while preserving the craftsmanship, refinement and sense of occasion that define a Bentley.’ Even as (slightly) more accessible models than those made in the 20th century, these were still designed as Bentleys to last - and be used for - a lifetime. Bringing the infotainment back from the bad old days (have you listened to commercial radio these days?) is one way to encourage old cars to carry on being used in the fashion they were intended. Proper integration of some audiobooks would be the ideal accompaniment to a big road trip, for example.
There isn’t a price yet for the BIU, customers are instead invited to contact their retailer, though clearly it’s going to be a healthy four-figure investment. Plus whatever else they might be able to tempt you with in the process. Useful, then, that Mk2 GTs haven’t plummeted to quite the levels of the original, with only a couple on PH at less than £30k - it becomes much easier to justify spending substantial money when the car is still worth something. Choice abounds in the classifieds for Bentleys suitable to be upgraded, from purple coupes to green saloons, V8 soft tops to W12 four-doors. Best get all your favourite podcasts downloaded ready…
https://www.jct600.co.uk/bentley/offers/parts_acce...
Not as bad as I would have thought coming from Bentley. The Porsche one is £1.5k but that is plus fitting, maps etc. so closer to £2k probably.
Would anyone who is spending and buying a new Bentley decide not to get one has it did not have Car play? really. pointless
I had the Porsche version done to my 970 Panamera, because the car was lovely, did most of what the newer Panameras did that I wanted, but the screen was sorely out of date with modern phones etc. Do I drop £1-2K on the upgrade, or £20k plus on a newer Panamera...
Of course, you can take your pick from Kenwood, Pioneer, Alpine etc, but this can add up when you start adding steering wheel control modules, amplifier wiring kits and so on.
Decent head unit was pretty much the only thing lacking on my 11 year old Flying Spur so overall pretty happy.
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