All of it is intentional. There are three "visual" info modes (Info:Off, Info:Line, and Info:Transient) and three non-visual info modes (Info: Track, Info:Now & Next, Info:Seek Tool.) When you're booting up in the car, the player switches to the last non-visual info mode you have selected. So if you normally use Track info, it'll switch to that. If you normally use Now & Next, it'll use that. Etc.
Holding the bottom button down for a little bit will get you your chosen visual info mode back. You don't have to manually switch to it. It's not all that difficult to deal with, and the Hijack kernel allows you to get around it entirely.