Remember this Sneak Peek #2 image way back when? Well, we can now pretty much confirm that this button is for a sunroof option available on the 2010 Prius. Evan compared the button to a Venza about a month ago, and using today's press release photos for the Safety Connect feature we can compare this button to yet another Toyota. Looks pretty definitive to me. If you still don't believe it, check out this scan of a Japanese magazine ad. Clearly shows a sunroof on the front half of the roof and the solar panels on the rear half. Now my mother might be able to be talked into buying a Prius. Her first question about cars is always, "Does it have a sunroof???"
According to a friend who works for Toyota, the sunroof is an option and the solar panels power the climate control system when the car is off. The system is set to keep the car 20 degrees cooler than the outside air temperature.
I wonder if you can get one without the sunroof and have additional panels where the sunroof would be.
I'll believe this when I see it. Do you have any clue as to how much energy it takes to run an air-conditioning system that will produce a 20 degree temperature differential??? Keith
Yeah, there's no way it will be able to do that with the maybe 100w that the solar panel will generate at best. At best, it should be able to keep interior temps within 20* of ambient when sitting in direct sun. Which would be a huge improvement over the temps your car can reach in the sun without any fans or air conditioning at all.
Then again you could get the optional "no sun roof or solar panel" version which protects the interior cloth and leather from fading by being exposed to sunlight....
That's gonna be an expensive option esp. since the moonroof retails for $1,000ish (i.e. what Toyota charges us). $1,400 for a Lexus moonroof.
ill take the sunroof but no solar panels, i garage mine with all the road rash i collected, they expect me to park it outside to keep the a/c going? heh
