to me that buttons the gear shift and that MINiDrive joystick look extremely cheap...

That's because the pic is of pre-production prototype of R56 interior - when all the parts & materials are more or less an improvisation.



Except the tinly pic in the brouchure BMW haven't released any other official pics of MINiDrive (Mini Cooper with NAV system) yet.

It's still not a common knowledge MINiDrive is real and being a FACT.

I'm sure the automotive world will be shocked.

It looks awful... the joystick-look as opposed to BMW's mouse-look appears cheap and flimsy IMO.

This is getting absolutely hideous.

Earlier today BMW AG released "In Detail" press release about new MINI.

This time - for the first time - NAV screen was finally officially shown, but still NO pics of "MINiDrive" controller / joystick!!!

But press release mentions "joystick" for browsing through different menus (Communication, Navigation, Entertianiment, Setup) - with movng it side-to-side, rotating it, and pressing the "confirm" button on the top of the stick (hello iDrive controller!!!)! Yet no mention of Menu button which is also present in MINI.

BMW AG are acting very paranoid!