Sorry I dont know, but good point, as i am down looking at the stalk! It will take some time, for some reason, still apprehensive in driving, due the size and silence, yet I spent years driving transit type vans and trucks, even buses! It doesn’t at the moment, feel like the bmw, where it somehow, becomes precise, connected and part of you. When to Lidls at the weekend and felt I was the chauffeur. We just nipped out in the alfa, and the engine burble was there. Just gotta get in it and drive, and stop the reaching for the phantom gear change.
Nope, doesn’t show in the dash. But it’s pretty obvious, if the reverse camera comes on, then you’re in reverse.
It won’t feel like the BMW, ever. The reason for that is the electric power steering, which is just awful. Not just in the i6, but in general. Even Porsche struggled for a while with it before they got it somewhat right in the Taycan.
It’s not a car suited for a spirited driver. You can blast over B roads, the grip is there, but it really isn’t enticing you to do so. Just make sure it’s dry, the car isn’t necessarily tail happy, but if you stomp on it in a wet/leafy corner, the torque will overwhelm the wheels.
As to the gearstick, as Kezo said, just twist it to the stop forward, off you go. That’s pretty simple. My gripe lies more with the general position of the stalk – a gearshift needs to be reachable with the left hand imho, so i can twirl on the wheel while i shift the car in reverse. Now particularly on three point turns or adjusting for a parking bay (basically every time currently since i’m not used to the size yet), you need to come to a stop, take the hand of the wheel, grab the wiper stalk by accident, put the car in forward, start twirling the wheel, stop, take the hand of the wheel, shift in reverse, start twirling again. It’s obnoxious.
Another pet peeve i already have is the auto hold. It doesn’t apply properly if you shift too fast in reverse after coming to a stand still – you throw it in reverse and the car just rolls back – while the wheels are still pointing the wrong way because i couldn’t twirl on it due to the gear stalk.
Almost gave me a heart attack when the car started faffing off in reverse while i didn’t have my hands at the wheel. I’m sure that’s an automatism that i developed in other cars and eventually it may sort itself out, but for now, nyeh.
My espresso machine arrives tomorrow, may have overdone it a bit lol.. Not quite sure where to put that monstrosity in the car.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.