The entire section is held in by tension clips, and you'll have to remove it in order to do anything with the lid. To remove the cupholder section of the center console then:
-set the e-brake
-open the armrest compartment.
-grab the forward section that wraps over the front edge and pull up.
-as the section comes loose push down on the rear part of the piece around the gear lever to disengage the tension clips.
-Viola! Your cupholder section is free.
Bear in mind that the cover for the cupholders is also the left hand side of the cupholder when it's in the open position, so if you remove it then you'll really only have 1/2 a cupholder.