The original Italeri Puma kit has been re-boxed several times, including the Academy version you are building. What sprues have been added or modified over the years, I don't know, although I have built the original. The rather spartan interior should be viewed with a grain of salt, to say the least. Since there are no remaining Pumas to be examined, we must rely on what few (and rare) photos of Puma interiors still exist, here is one of the forward-facing driver's position;
You can see the gear shift knob just to the right of the seat.