Another one of those just curious questions:

Ok not that this a major selling point by any means but how high is the center console on the 10's in comparison to the 05-09's armrest? From the looks of it (obviously I could very well be wrong since I've yet to sit in one), there doesn't seem to be enough height to the new console to comfortably rest your right arm while driving/cruising. With my 05 if I were to flip the armrest/compartment door up I wouldn't be able to rest my arm on the console alone, it becomes too low.

For those who sat in one what's your take on it?

 

The new center IS the arm rest...
The line on it is equal to the line in the door so they are the same height and curve.

This way it feels comfortable and you don't risk banging your elbo on the arm rest like in the 05, if you have short arms. (like moi)

If you look at the pic, the center is higher... so don't compare it to the current car (which is lower)

 

Exactly Boomer, The Designers went to great length to make sure the console and arm rest were the same profile and angle for comfort. If you look at the comparison you can see that the rest of the console on the 2010 has been raised to meet the front edge of where the old console lid used to jut forward. The Armrest/Lid is now Flush with the rest of the Console.

The Angles of the Old and New are Very Apparent when you highlight it.

 

Awesome responses! TB's picture outlines it perfectly. While no expert on the subject, it's obvious that Ford did a lot of amazing design work on the 2010, especially with regards to human interface. There is simply no excuse for mix-matched armrests! This is the kind of detail that it takes to "get it right!" (Of course, I'll have to sit in one to confirm but Ford does specifically mentions the aligned armrests in the press release.)

(No expert but I did study industrial design for a semester in university under a self professed car-nut...can't remember his name right now. He himself had worked on designing the then new Mazda 929 and Ski-doo hood, was restoring a Gullwing Benz...and was personal friends with Emeline King - interior designer on the SN95.)

 

I've sat in there. The console is the armrest and it matches PERFECTLY to the manual shift ****. I literally only have to move my fingers to shift. Very comfortable!