Thing that sticks out from the drivers/passenger's lower door

It's to keep the door aligned in a crash so that it can still operate.

 

That thing isn't there in European versions. There's a plug on the door, and no hole punched in the body. Targetting something particular to US safety tests?

Safety things is definitely one of the areas there's always minor variations in.Different airbag layouts in US/Europe/Japan too:

Driver+passenger front+side airbags: All versions
Curtain airbags: All versions
Rear side airbags: America only
Driver knee airbags: Japan + Europe
Front centre airbag: Europe only

 

I don’t see how a small pin can withstand a collision that could involve several tons of force & keep the door “aligned”? Is this purely a mechanical solution, ie: just a tab? or does this make an electrical connection for a sensor?

If this really is for the reason stated in the video, this is such a terrible implementation. I was searching for this as I kept gouging my foot ankle on that damn spike when entering/exiting the car- it’s dangerous!

(If implementing something protruding, they should have maybe swapped the male/female connectors & made sure it is embedded in the hole to avoid injuries?)

 

Does anyone know why the US gen5 has one very bulky windshield wiper base, but both wipers on the Japanese/European ge5 are both slim and thin?

 

Fancy linkage on the passenger wiper to cover more area than a simple rotating arm. Was also the case in at least one previous generation.

Maybe a US legal requirement?

 

As far as I know, gen 4 was the only generation that didn't have the double-jointed passenger wiper in the US. All prior generations had it, and it seems to be back again.

 

If this really is for the reason stated in the video, this is such a terrible implementation. I was searching for this as I kept gouging my foot ankle on that damn spike when entering/exiting the car- it’s dangerous!

How does this even happen? I've never even come close to hitting it