My dealership loaned me (at no charge, even!) a 2011 Cooper with automatic for the day while my brakes were being done, and I noticed a few differences right away from my 2007, which has a 6-speed manual.

First, the automatic's shifting is quite nice - the engine actually sounds much like a manual transmission is being shifted, with the slight dip in RPMs which you'd expect a skilfully-shifted manual to sound like!

Second, the trim looks cheaper compared to my fluid-sliver interior. I know the black is supposed to look "classier", but come on - the large C-shaped trim on the doors was in textured black plastic and nothing at all as expensive looking as it should be. Black trim on black, around the tach, speedo and centre console is just... bland. However, this might have been a Cooper Classic (Canadian base model) and not a Cooper, so the next model up "might" look better inside.

Finally, I like the look of my temp/fan controls much better with the colour-coding for hot/cold, which is also lit up in those colours at night, it I remember right. On the 2011 car, the markings were either silver or grey on black - not very helpful for knowing at a glance if the temperature is set too cold, too hot or just right

 

love everything about my new 2011 ...

 

I'm going to have to agree with the new trim being blacked out, I also like the fluid silver because it gives it a highlighted look and everything is not the same color and bland. like all other cars...