Attention valet drivers: Don’t get frisky with the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette --
big brother is watching.
General Motors is offering next year’s model of the famous sport coupe with a data recorder that captures video, audio and driving data from the vehicle when switched into a special “Valet Mode.”
The Vette’s owner can come back from dinner and check out if the valet was testing the sports car’s 3.8 second zero to 60 mph time. The car will have recorded data such as speed, engine RPM, which gears have been used and the highest level of g-force incurred on that joy ride to the parking garage.
“Think of it as a baby monitor for your car,” said Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager. “Anyone who has felt apprehension about handing over their keys will appreciate the peace of mind of knowing exactly what happened while their baby was out of sight.”
A video of driving hanky panky will be captured by a high-definition camera, which records the driver’s point-of-view through the windshield. Audio of any other hanky panky will be caught by a microphone in the cabin. It all can be viewed or heard instantly on the Corvette’s 8-inch color touchscreen when the car is parked, or downloaded to a computer.
The current version of the car has a junior version of the system where the owner activates the Valet Mode by entering a unique four-digit code. But it merely locks the storage bin behind the center stack display, the glove box and disables the radio and infotainment system. It doesn’t record vehicle data or capture video and audio.
system package that is a $1,795 add-on to the $53,995 base price of the Corvette.
This type of monitoring technology is still a novelty but will soon become commonplace, said Karl Brauer, an analyst for car pricing company Kelley Blue Book.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-corvette-records-valet-driver-20140819-story.html
