2015 Corvette Stingray to get industry first Performance Data Recorder option
Chevrolet and Cosworth have co-developed an industry first Performance Data Recorder package for the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray combining video, telemetry, and data acquisition information, all viewable on the car’s eight-inch dash mounted touchscreen.
The three PDR components start with a 720 pixel, high-definition camera mounted within the windshield header trim to capture driver point-of-view video footage of their track experience. There is also a microphone mounted inside the cabin for recording audio.
A self-contained telemetry recorder with a dedicated 5Hz GPS receiver is mounted in the passenger-side front wheel well which is hardwired into the Stingray’s Controller Area Network stream, giving you access to vehicle information such as engine speed, throttle position, transmission gear, steering angle, and braking force. They have even added an SD-card slot in the glove box for storing video and vehicle data.
The PDR system can record 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.
If you need more detail, you can remove the SD card, open the data on your computer with the Cosworth Toolbox software application included with the package and get a more in-depth breakdown of your driving.
The Cosworth Toolbox combines professional-level motorsport data analysis with an easy-to-use graphic interface and can overlay recorded laps on a Bing-enabled satellite map of the track, and compare selected laps in detail for any requested point on the track. Comparisons include corner traces, vehicle speed, and cornering force to help drivers improve their driving consistency and ultimately their lap times.
Pricing for the PDR option will be released sometime in the fall. No word on whether or not Chevrolet will offer a kit for 2014 Stingrays. We hear Chevrolet is considering posting PDR lap data from professional drivers so customers can compare their results.
Posted by: Nicholas Cavanaugh; Editor-in-Chief
