2016 Prius open questions

[Moderator's Note: CivicDriver06 composed a great list here. To eliminate the need to search the entire thread for answers, we're going to add them - as we learn them - after the question. I would ask CD06 to do the same, if you get to it before us]

1. Does the Li-Ion or NiMH battery charge faster than before?
   The NiMH charges 28% faster per unit time.
   
   (Taken from Tokyo Motor Show Press Release PDF aka English Staff Manual)
2. Do we still have the 10 second grace period at a cold start up to choose EV Drive Mode before the ICE comes on?
3. At the reveal in Las Vegas, it was said that the upper part of the door was hard plastic, but in the reviews of the press event it seemed that they also have soft-touch on the upper part of the doors now . Is that true?
   Yes. Prius Three and higher will have soft touch plastic. Prius Two and Prius Two Eco will have hard plastic.
   
4. Do we have more voice commands with the new system? e.g. Can you control the climate control with voice commands as you could in Gen 2 Prius?
5. Is there an indicator on the dash that shows if the grill is shut or open?
6. I heard ground clearance has sadly gone down a bit. By how much?
   From 5.5 to 4.8" (140mm to 123mm)
   
7. Does the remaining range finally increase in the display (as it should!) when driving more efficiently instead of just stagnating or going down as it sadly does in Gen 3, and probably most of Toyota's vehicles?
8. Toyota said the cabin quietness surpasses even that of luxury cars! Is that true?
   Yes. In Danny's video review, he used a decibel app on his phone and proved that the interior noise is very low.
9. In the Staff Manual it was said that new Eco Mode is now about the same as current Normal Mode ,so what is new Normal and Power Mode like?
10. Did you also have the feeling that leg room in the back has significantly decreased as rumoured?
    Legroom is subjectively the same as verified by @Netcub and @tmacrp. See links:
    I get to play with a 2016 Prius Four! | PriusChat
    Gen4, is it worth it? | Page 14 | PriusChat
11. Nice to see we still get turn by turn Navigation on HUD. Have the graphics of that info improved?
12. Is there finally an indicator on the dash for showing if washer fluid should be filled up?
    Yes
13. How bright are the new 4.2 inch screens? Are they easy to see ,even in bright sun light?
14. Do you still need to go to the dealer to have that annoying back-up beep turned off?
15. Does the moonroof take up some head room in the back?
16. Are there some additional functions on the key, like remote A/C or remote opening/shutting windows from the outside?
    There is an available remote window open/close. It's off by default and it's dealer configurable. Opening can be down with the remote fob and key-in-door. Closing is only done via key-in-door.
17. Was there a chance to test the new headlights in a dark hangar of the airport?
18. Is there some kind of special glass used in the 4th gen to keep interior temperature down?

 

That's great,so the whole door is soft touch exept the door pockets !?

 

We are talking about an expensive and very high tech car here !
Even cars in a much lower price range have some kind of indicator or message on the screen saying that washer fluid is low .
You shouldn't need to pay extra for something which is more a less standard on every other car !
The same story with that strange remaining range reading of the Prius .
I have driven a lot of cars with a trip computer,but never have I seen one acting as strange as it does in a Prius !
Range readings should go up when driving more efficiently, especially in a Prius, but instead of that it just stagnates or goes down !
All it would take would be a little sensor for the washer fluid and a software change for the trip computer .
That will not effect fuel economy,so it beats me why Toyota hasn't changed things so far !?

 

I only ment the remaining range !
If I go 170 km/h for a while of course remaining range goes down,but when I go way slower the remaining range should go up again to a certain extent which it doesn't .
I have never seen that kind of behaviour in other cars .
The only vehicle that seems to work in this aspect as it should , seems to be the the Plug-in .
At least that's what I have been told !

 

Well if mine shows 0 range I can still go about 150-200 km all depending on how I drive !
It warns a little bit too early for my liking.