Sneak Peek of the New Prius - Picture 2

[pjm877]

after a much closer look... it is the access port for the retinal scanner to enter the "Tardus" that just happen to take the shape of a Prius. 10,000,000 BC anyone?

[ManualOnly]

This is really evil.

I mean, its like watching a strip tease dancer slowly revealing her navel or a birthmark.

What's next? The exhaust pipe?

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by efusco

Am I the only one that thinks this 'button' doesn't actuate anything? I think it's simply a small door that covers some sort of outlet...either for USB, Ipod/MP3, maybe a standard 12v car outlet, etc.

Since you'd push the protruding "open" part the 'button/cover' would rotate 90 degrees and the closed would thus be facing upward opening a fairly wide access to whatever outlet/port is beneath.

see below

Originally Posted by mr_zorg

That doesn't look like a switch at all, it looks like a door. It's got some fairly large gaps around the edges, and looks like it's made of one piece. My guess is that there's a pivot in the middle such than when you push on the bulged part the whole thing pivots inwards 90 degrees exposing an outlet of some sort with the part that says "close" now perpendicular to the car and parallel to the floor. Flip it down to close. But a door to what?

Based on the gloss of the paint, I'm going to say it's outside. Based on the different textures between the "door" and the surrounding area, I'm going to say the door is metal and the rest is plastic. Given all that and the fact that it slopes down and in, I'm going to hazard a guess that it's located on the underside flashing of either the front or rear bumper. Using the EXIF information contained in the jpg itself to view that at actual size, it looks *just* big enough to cover a standard 110 outlet.

Charging port? Maybe?

good point... but why open/close and no pictogram suggesting what it's for (other than it might give the whole game away if they did show it)

[hd4602]

Is it just me or do the "Open" and "Close" words look like they were photoshopped in and not actually printed on the button.

[etyler88]

Finally, it is the open close switch for the grill blocker!

[KAR IDEA]

Sunroof/Moonroof, or auto open/close hatch. Has to be one of the two...

Dave

[MikeSF]

Its for the weapons bay doors where new Prius owners will be welcomed to an assortment of anti-SUV munitions, ranging from 50-caliber machine guns to EM emitters (also useful for shutting down those are a cell phone while driving).... of course it all depends what package you get.

[nyty-nyt]

Personally, I hope it's to open the Plug-in access door. I don't want a sunroof, and I can open my hatch just fine, thanks.

[PA Prius]

Bladder control?

PA P

[Neohybrid]

I think it has to be something on the inside of the car since it doesn't appear to be very "weatherproof" -- I don't think it is a cover for the plug-in since that would be on the outside (we hope). It appears from the picture that it slides in at the bottom (slot visible on right). I can't see anything in the middle of the button that would lead me to believe it pushes in at the top therefore popping out or up from the bottom. I have no better guesses than what has already been posted.

Wait a minute -- it is probably for the ram-air induction system!