Great use of a fine word there 911pcars! It doesn't get enough use over here...

Obviously they are measuring the structural integrety of the trunk lid in preparation for the fitting of the 'Carlos Fandango' tm 'Tunerz' Edition Triple Element Street Racer Wing

something to do with the automatic parallel parking system now on the higher model?

Looks like widebody911 and I shared the same thought at 1:08 PM EST.

Can we get some answers to yes/no questions?
I would guess that it is some kind of test rig, rather than a piece of assembly/service etc equipment?
I would also guess that doesn't travel with the car, ie. it's a static set-up, due to the length of what looks like air hose that runs off the botton of the picture?
Are the two black 'handles' that stick down from the back actually handles? If so are they essential to the function, rather than just there to put the thing in place?

Re: Thats Easy- Electro Static Beam Blanker
 

This MUST be the correct answer because I didn't understand a word of it...:D

Sherwood, they are testing the automatic jam protection on the auto-closing trunklid of the new ES350. The suction cups hold the machine to the lid and the red hose pulls a vacuum so it will stay on. This allows them to repeat the test many, many times.

What do I win? How about one of those golf club shafts to hold the hood open?

Aerkuld wrote:
"Can we get some answers to yes/no questions?"

No. but I'll provide yes or no answers to your questions

"I would guess that it is some kind of test rig, rather than a piece of assembly/service etc equipment?"

No

"I would also guess that doesn't travel with the car, ie. it's a static set-up, due to the length of what looks like air hose that runs off the botton of the picture?"

Yes, but the air hose is removeable.

"Are the two black 'handles' that stick down from the back actually handles? If so are they essential to the function, rather than just there to put the thing in place?"

They look like handles. Remember. I didn't invent this. They just told me what it is.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

John Cramer wrote:
"Sherwood, they are testing the automatic jam protection on the auto-closing trunklid of the new ES350. The suction cups hold the machine to the lid and the red hose pulls a vacuum so it will stay on. This allows them to repeat the test many, many times.

What do I win?"

Nada. Sorry Kemosabe. And that's an IS, not an ES350 (maybe I should have asked that question).

"How about one of those golf club shafts to hold the hood open?"

John,
I'd make this more interesting with a week vacation in Cancun, however, knowing you competitive types out there, someone you know probably has a cousin's boyfriend's uncle whose daughter's son-in-law works in the tech area and put this thing together...... or maybe a Toyota trunk lid engineer from Japan who, having lurked on this forum for years, will now reveal himself and the answers to life's questions. But they still may be clueless what this really does.

I of course, have the "correct" answer (unless they told me incorrectly and it really is a flux capacitor). However, I'll promise to share what I know on Thursday evening; that is, if I can stagger from dinner table to computer, or unless someone makes a correct WAG before we consume the bird. However, from the imaginative but lame answers so far, I've got the feeling the only correct guess will be the number of plates of food I will consume (hint: >1).

Sherwood

A wayward Honda robot?

It's to check how much force is required to close the trunk ?

Or... it's a portable still to make Saki on the go.

That's good enough!;)

So, from you previous answers it isn't a test rig and it doesn't travel with the car, and those look like handles but you don't know (or won't say!) - which probably means that they have nothing to do with how the thing works, but not for sure.

Some more questions requiring yes/no answers...
Is it something for service?

To clarify, are the handle-like pieces a key part of how this thing accomplishes it's function? (rather than just something you hold on to to put it in place BEFORE it performs its function)

Is it measuring/checking something?

Does it make holes in the trunk lid?

Can this be used to lift the trunk lid off the car?

Does it fill something in the car with air?

You've used up your alloted quota of yes/no type questions. I realize you didn't know this before you asked and thus couldn't have worded your questions more succinctly. Sorta like what the guardian knight said to Indiana Jones as he attempted to select the correct cup of Jesus from among many: "Choose wisely". So I've imposed retroactive rule number 1, whatever that is.

However, I can confidently report that these appear to be handles that provide no functional purpose as to the true function of the rig's purpose.

And no... it's not corporate busy work, but when I reveal the answer, it could very well be the case.

Sherwood

Checking the air quality inside the car?

Ok, the lady in the white coat grabs the two black handles and bends over. While she is bent over Michael Jackson (or who ever that is wearing the sweet red lether jacket) then uses the orange handled tool on the cart to test the desingners anal retentativeness. If too much of the orange tool fits in, the design is not nearly boring enough, and they have to change it. All of the extradordinary stuff is just for show, seeing how the Japanese like technology and all.

Bill

Why any fool can see that its the vacuum jig that Lexus uses to drill the holes for the rear spoiler! It sucks down on the deck lid to hold the jig in place while they drill. It also has a vacuum cleaner to pick up the metal chips as they drill. BTW, that's a restricted area of Lexus, no cameras allowed! Your so busted.:p

Hugh, you're thiking along the same lines I was. Judging by Sherwoods reluctance to answer the questions I would think that a drilling rig for holes to attach a rear spoiler is not far off.

Aerkuld:

I'm not thinking, I know! One of my brother in laws is QA Manager for Toyota USA and I emailed him the pic.

That's cheating!

;) ;) ;)

That is where I was going with my questions, but was trying to hide the main attack by throwing in some red herrings, but I suspect Sherwood busted me and decided to limit my questions :p

That was fun though, got any others?

I've got some 'mystery' car photos I could post, but they will have to wait until tomorrow...

Its clearly a Honda add on.

"Why any fool can see that its the vacuum jig that Lexus uses to drill the holes for the rear spoiler! It sucks down on the deck lid to hold the jig in place while they drill. It also has a vacuum cleaner to pick up the metal chips as they drill. ....."

This goes to show you can't trust anyone on this public forum not to ask their brother-in-law who is QA manager to provide the answer. I should have known some folks, like Hugh R., are well-connected in the industry. Good thing I revoked the trip to Cancun. :)

Aerkuld, you were nervously close as you suspected. However, I would have warbled the answer immediately upon threat of extraordinary rendition.

What initially attracted my interest was this TIG-welded, PVC'd and vacuum-sucked jig - obviously a lot of man-hours to build in order to drill ..... four holes. It's apparent they want the holes at the exact location and with no peripheral damage. There's a similar jig for the front spoiler. Go to your local Toyota body shop to see one in real life.

I'd better recede into the b.g. before the corp. suits appear and confiscate my wife's new Toyota.

Happy Turkey day folks.

Sherwood

Fine, so what did I actually win?