This is what I thought I was saying although it appears I wasn't quite clear enough! Thanks StangNut!

 

I think what confused me the most was the use of "aluminum" to describe the IUP and Premiere Trim *****. One has a gray painted "aluminum" H-pattern, and the other has a full "aluminum" trim. The Ford brochure and order guides are equally confusing. It'd be nice if Ford took the time to make a more thorough ordering guide, showing all the various different interior configurations based on the package choices.
I take it that no one here likes the stock all-ebony shift ****?

 

Here's another pic of the stock black shift ****.

 

I think the black top looks good, but I don't like the plastic sides.

 

I got the IUP shift **** in the mail today. It looks pretty sharp.
It has the same type of clear plastic coating over the H-pattern though. The color scheme is reversed: black text with a silver background. The stock black shift **** uses silver text with a black background, but scratches tend to show up more readily on the clear surface.

The IUP **** has a leather-like material on the sides. It doesn't smell or feel like real leather though. The stock **** is definitely a rubbery/plastic material with a more obvious grained texture, whereas the IUP **** uses a smoother texture.

 

1. Correct.
2. The silver top ( insert ) is painted silver not real metal.
3. This is real aluminum, w / engraved 5 speed pattern to match cluster numerals.
4. The top insert is real aluminum with engraved 6 speed pattern. to match SVT cluster numerals.

 

I'd have to get a close up look at the GT500 handle to believe it's real aluminum since the IUP handle is clear plastic over a silver base.

 

I agree with StangNut. It looks like the Premiere Trim and GT500 shift ***** MIGHT have clear plastic over the "aluminum".

BTW have we confirmed that the leather is real leather? It doesn't smell like genuine leather but it definitely doesn't feel like plastic.