2015 Corvette Valet Mode Is Nanny Cam for Cars
Parking downtown is hard. Handing over your keys to let some stranger do it for you is quite possibly even harder. That is, unless you have the 2015 Corvette Valet Mode up your sleeve.
The all-new 2015 Corvette ©GM
The 2015 Corvette Valet Mode with the Performance Data Recorder is every proud but worried ‘Vette owner’s new best friend. It allows drivers to leave their Corvette with a valet after locking an interior storage compartment (for things like money, jewelry, and any technology) while also disabling the infotainment system and recording video, audio, and vehicle data, such as speeds reached and gears accessed.
“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.”
Video taken via the 2015 Corvette Valet Mode
Drivers can easily access the industry-exclusive valet system through the settings menu, using a four-digit code to activate it. While Valet Mode itself instantly locks the storage bin and the glove box and disables the radio and infotainment system, it is the Performance Data Recorder (PDR), introduced for 2015, that allows drivers to record a video of the trip their car takes while with the valet, as well as in-car audio. The PDR also records vehicle data, such as speed, RPM, gear position, and g-force, during Valet Mode. Drivers can watch the video immediately on the Corvette’s eight-inch color touchscreen, or download the video to a computer to watch later.
A four-digit code activates Valet Mode.
Originally, the PDR was meant to record data gathered while on the track, but GM engineers saw that the technology could be applied to the 2015 Corvette Valet Mode as well.
“Performance Data Recorder was initially designed as a tool for track days, allowing drivers to record their laps and improve their driving skills,” said Charles. “We soon realized the system could have many more applications, such as recording a scenic drive up Highway 101, or recording when the Valet Mode is activated.”
Valet Mode with PRD will be available on all 2015 Corvette models.
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