Next A3 interior pictures no handbrake lever!?

[PANZER]

Saw some pictures of the next A3 interior http://blog.caranddriver.com/audi-re-confirms-next-a3-and-r8-e-tron-for-2012-arrivals/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+caranddriver%2Fblog+%28Car+an d+Driver%29

http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/2013-audi-a3-interior-spy-photos
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/11q4/428575/2013-audi-a3-interior-spy-photo-photo-428588-s-787x481.jpg
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/11q4/428575/2013-audi-a3-interior-spy-photo-photo-428589-s-787x481.jpg
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/11q4/428575/2013-audi-a3-interior-spy-photo-photo-428590-s-787x481.jpg

And i am disappointed i see no handbrake lever just seems to be a electronic parking brake instead.
I am interested in the new A3 particularly the S3 or RS3 as my next car but i want my car to have the main controllers to be as manual as possible "manual gearbox, manual handbrake, steering, fully disconnectable ESP/Traction Control even under heavy braking ect" i hope the electronic parking brake is just an option.

I can sort of understand the electronic parking brake in a big luxury car like a A8 but for an example a small S3 or RS3 that supposedly is meant to be fun drivers cars i dont.
Looked at the new BMW 3 series it still have the conventional handbrake lever.

I dont like the evolution some cars make that eventually you just a passenger not actually driving the car.

What do you guys think?

[The RS6]

Well I hated the idea of no-hand handbrake but I have a new A4 and it's a rather useful thing. You get the plus of easy starts on hills, you get the minus of NO FUN in the snow. I got used to it and it's fine now...

[s3dbw]

Like all new cars it will probably grow on me, but for now I have to say that the interior design of the current A3/S3 is better. This one looks to have one of those pop up MMI screens stuck on the top of the dash which is just a distraction and the air vents look like they have been taken out of the A1 parts bin. I think I would want to see one in the flesh before being convinced.

A Good New Year to all, lets hope 2012 brings some interesting and exciting innovations on the Audi front

regards

[PANZER]

About the handbrake lever yes i meant that its more fun in the snow and tight asphalt turns.
Fun handbrake turn RS3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzFnmcG3OtA .
But hill hold assist can you also get on the current A3 with the handrake lever.

Yes im a little sceptical about the visual apperense of the new interior the current A3 navigation seems to blend in better but the popup might be better becuse you dont have to look down as much to watch it.

We will see how it turns out.

Thanks for your input.

[andreasm]

Some more official pics http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_7401.shtml