Yea, Rudy is right - I didn't know WHAT it was at first, thought it was something to do with the top.

Then, I pulled it off and turned the console over and saw that it was connected to the lock on the compartment door. But it STILL didn't occur to me that the car had pneumatic locks - so I thought maybe the deployment of the air bags shot air into the lock to keep your CD's from hitting you in the head in an accident.

But when I asked on the forum, it was pointed out to me that the car has all pneumatic locks.

I never would have guessed that this car, or ANY car, had pneumatic locks.