The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette will include a really neat built in data recorder that will allow drivers to record their driving on race tracks, autocrosses, or wherever else they want, add telemetry overlays to the video, use the data in conjunction with satellite maps of race tracks for lap time analysis, and it can all be downloaded on an SD card for sharing on the internet via whatever medium the person chooses. This is pretty wild  stuff and it is a first for a production car. Obviously this technology has filtered down from Chevrolet’s racing operations and the telemetry comes from a partnership with Cosworth in England.

Being plugged into the car’s CAN system means that things like gear, speed, throttle position, steering wheel angle, and other data points can be saved, displayed and analyzed. Like a baseball player looking to improve his swing, race car drivers can use video analysis to improve their driving by watching where they are braking, entering and exiting turns, etc. We think it is bitchin’ because we’re looking forward to the videos hitting YouTube for us to share.

Chevy debuted the system at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and people went nutso for it. The news of its release has been streaking around the internet over the last couple of days. We’re waiting for the system to trickle down into other performance cars in the GM lineup and it will over the next couple of years. Other cars have cool self-analysis stuff built in. You’ll remember that we told you about the built in drag strip timer that the Mustang GT has back when we reviewed it during the summer. We’ve got the full release from Chevrolet below. The technology and the abilities of the system are pretty awesome.

If you’re wondering why GM has this torrent of news coming lately it is because the Detroit Auto Show is coming up and obviously they are throwing some counter punches to the 2015 Mustang announcement. Ford will be dropping some big bombs at the show, in our opinion. The 2015 F-150 is supposed to debut there and that will be HUGE news. Chevrolet may be getting some preemptive strikes in.

HERE’S THE FULL RELEASE FROM CHEVROLET –

LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet announced at the Consumer Electronics Show today an industry-first Performance Data Recorder for the 2015 Corvette Stingray. The fully integrated system enables users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences on and off the track.

“The Performance Data Recorder combines the ability to record and share drive videos with the power of a professional-level motorsports telemetry system,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. “Drivers can easily record and share their experiences driving down the Tail of the Dragon or lapping Road Atlanta. In addition, with the included telemetry software, users can analyze their laps in incredible detail and find opportunities to improve their driving and lap times.”

The Performance Data Recorder, or PDR, system was developed with Cosworth, the British motorsports-engineering company that supplies the Corvette Racing team’s data acquisition and telemetry electronics system. It will be available with the start of regular 2015 Corvette production, later in the third quarter of 2014. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

The PDR system includes three major components, all seamlessly integrated into the Corvette Stingray’s interior. First is a 720p, high-definition camera, mounted within the windshield header trim, which records the driver’s point-of-view through the windshield. Audio is recorded via a dedicated microphone in the cabin.

Second is a self-contained telemetry recorder. The system uses a dedicated GPS receiver that operates at 5 hertz, or cycles per second. That is five times faster than the in-dash navigation system and allows more precise positioning and corner traces. The recorder is also hard-wired into the Stingray’s Controller Area Network, or CAN, to access vehicle information, ranging from engine speed and transmission-gear selection to braking force and steering-wheel angle.

Finally, the system features a dedicated SD-card slot in the glove box for recording and transferring video and vehicle data. Recording time depends on the capacity of the memory card, but an 8-gigabyte card can record approximately 200 minutes, while a 32-GB card stores up to about 800 minutes – more than 13 hours of driving time.

The PDR system can record video with three data overlay options, each rendered in real time:

• Track Mode – shows the maximum level of data on the screen, including speed, rpm, g-force, a location-based map, lap time and more.
• Sport Mode – shows fewer details on the overlay but includes key data including speed and g-force
• Touring Mode – simply records and displays video and audio of the drive with no data overlay
• Performance Mode – records performance metrics, such as 0 to 60 mph acceleration, 1/4-mile speed and elapsed time, and 0-100-0 mph runs.

The video can be viewed on the Corvette Stingray’s eight-inch color touchscreen when the car is parked, or downloaded to a computer for further editing, and sharing video via social media sites.

For users who want a more in-depth understanding of their performance, the PDR vehicle data can be opened in the included “Cosworth Toolbox” software, which combines Cosworth’s professional-level motorsport data analysis with an easy-to-use graphic interface.

The Cosworth Toolbox application overlays recorded laps on a Bing-enabled satellite map of the track, and compares selected laps in detail for any requested point on the drive. Comparisons include corner traces, vehicle speed, and cornering force to help drivers improve their driving consistency and ultimately their lap times.

“The ability to review laps between track sessions can identify immediate adjustments for quicker laps in the next session,” said Juechter. “It’s like having a 32-GB crew chief trackside providing you with real-time feedback to improve your driving skills.”