What’s this? Please, oh please let it be true! Is BMW really thinking about dropping that accursed iDrive?

I sure hope they are … I know what they’re trying to do, what with all the new systems and nav screens and what not, why not just have them all in one spot? Why not just have everything from the radio to the heaters to the trunk warmer all controlled from one central screen and controlled by one big knob?

Because you end up staring and a screen and navigating through page after page after page after page to turn something off, or on or just to make it stop.

That’s why.

Or at least that’s my impression form my limited involvement with The System (and when the hell did things like heater controls end up being A System? I swear, it’s a cable that lets more or less coolant into a heat exchanger, why make it so complex? Why? Why? Why?).

Anyway (and this we call “burying the lede” in journalism), the current rumor making the rounds (and more on tech sites that car sites, and that oughtta tell you something about the state of things right there) is that BMW is going to completely drop the iDrive for a completely new one designed by Apple.

Yes. THAT Apple.

The iPod guys.

This could be very interesting to watch.

(Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, I don’t have anything really for or against BMWs, I’m just against poor design and poor ergonomics or abysmal UI design).