Watch this walkthrough of the 2015 Corvette's Performance Data Recorder

We're really quite excited about the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and its Performance Data Recorder – and not just because of its unbridled potential for providing the world with more "dash cam" videos. We love the idea if only because it means we won't necessarily have to fiddle with GoPros while out on track. The new technology fits the Stingray with a 720p video camera, a microphone and all manner of GPS doodads to record your progress as you lap a track or your favorite winding road.

The techies at Engadget had a fairly extensive hands-in with the Corvette Stingray and its PDR ahead of this week's Consumer Electronics Show. For a firsthand look at the system and how it works, check out the full article on Autoblog complete with video coverage: http://aol.it/19iXtc1

A History of the Automobile, Part I

Ever wonder who first planted the seed for the idea behind your speedy coupe or beastly SUV? The history of the automobile takes root in humble origins:

It all began with several Italians who recorded designs for wind-driven vehicles. First among them was Guido da Vigevano in 1335, who created a windmill type drive to gears and thus to wheels. Vaturio designed a similar vehicle which was also never built. Later, Leonardo da Vinci designed a clockwork-driven tricycle with tiller steering and a differential mechanism between the rear wheels.

In 1712, Thomas Newcomen built his first steam engine. It had a cylinder and a piston and was the first of this kind to use steam as a condensing agent to form a vacuum and with an overhead walking beam, pull on a rod to lift water. The steam was not under pressure, so Newcomen's lift would have only been limited by the length of the rod and the strength of the valve at the bottom. It was not until 1765 that James Watt developed the first pressurized steam engine, which proved to be much more efficient and compact than the Newcomen engine.

The first recorded vehicle to move under its own power was designed by Nicholas Joseph Cugnot and constructed by M. Brezin in 1769. A second unit was built in 1770 which weighed 8000 pounds and had a top speed of 2 miles per hour on the cobblestone streets of Paris.

Above, you will see the first model on its first drive around Paris, when it hit and knocked down a stone wall. This unsteady prototype also had a tendency to tip over forward unless its weight was counterbalanced with a canon in the rear, for which purpose it was built to carry out.

Corvette C7.R Set to Debut in Detroit

Chevrolet has already confirmed that it will debut the 2015 Corvette Z06 at the Detroit Auto Show next month, and now its motorsports division has announced that the Corvette C7.R racecar will also be on display in Detroit. The new C7.R will then make its racing debut in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship (USCC) racing series at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, on January 25.

In addition to the news about the C7.R, Chevy Racing is also celebrating a strong year in motorsports with a total of 12 championships across various racing series like NASCAR, Grand-Am, IndyCar and American Le Mans Series. For more details and the official press release, check out the full article on Autoblog.

Terrifying commutes from around the world

Tired of rush-hour traffic? Exhausted from hour-long drives to work? These people's commutes will make yours look like a walk in the park!

1. Anyone who has to drive along the North Yungas Road in Bolivia. Where's that horse and buggy when you need it?

2. Anyone hoping to get on this train in Beijing. Claustrophobia is a valid excuse for being late to work... we hope.

 
3. Anyone who constantly has to risk their life by driving under the Devil’s Nose. Must be quite a sight when it rains.

4. Anyone who has no choice but using a zip line to get to town in Colombia. For a handful of families living there, zip lines are the only way to cross a river and not a source of recreational amusement.

5. Anyone who has to cross the Hussaini Bridge in Kashmir. The bridge divides a village in two - on one side are houses, on the other are farms. What was that old saying about a house divided?

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is all about food and family – turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and family time. However, preparing holiday goodies can lead to disaster - the kitchen is the setting of more fires than any other room in the house, and cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home. Here are some safety steps to use while preparing the Thanksgiving feast.

Check food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while cooking. Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.

Keep the kids away from the cooking area. Enforce a “kid-free zone” and make them stay at least three feet away from the stove.

Keep anything that can catch fire - pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from the stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.

Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.

Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen. Contact the local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.

Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.

Install a smoke alarm near the kitchen, on each level of the home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

2015 Chevy Colorad Unveiled at LA Auto Show

Chevrolet unveiled its new 2015 Colorado at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, in Los Angeles. And there was much rejoicing for those looking for a modern, contemporary pickup that also happens to be somewhat smaller than a full-size truck!

Hyperbole? Possibly, but not when you consider the midsize pickup market segment in North America is down to two offerings – the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier – both of which haven’t been substantially revised since their introductions in 2004.

"The market used to be huge," concedes Jeff Luke, GM’s chief engineer of truck platforms. "But when you stacked a compact or midsize truck up against a modern full-size truck, that value proposition was lost. The fuel economy was almost the same; the cost was almost the same; so the buyer looked at that and said ‘why not buy bigger?’ That’s why full-size trucks pushed out midsize pickups, but we believe that market will expand if there’s not as much overlap as before."

The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado’s front fascia is unique, and more upright than its international siblings. The squared-off hood is pure Silverado, but the Malibu-like split grille neatly flows into tapered composite headlamp assemblies. While the global Colorado uses round wheel arches, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado adopts square wheel wells – something Chevy’s design staff views as a hallmark for its North American trucks – and wraps them in deep, chunky flares.

To find out more, read the full article at AutomobileMag.

Check out SEMA's answer to the Chevy Sonic!

Chevrolet is trying put a little super into the Sonic. In the process, it hopes to whip up more enthusiasm for its growing small car line. Read all about it on USAToday!