The exposed headlights usually draw the first comments. For many years Corvettes have used hideaway headlamps to complement their sleek, aerodynamic designs, but advances in optics and lighting technology enable designers to achieve those goals with exposed headlights. From an engineering standpoint, the new headlamps are better than the old hideaways: They are lighter, which means less weight hanging out over the front wheels, a critical area in terms of overhang, polar moments of inertia, and all that stuff; reducing weight in front is always difficult in a front-engine car, so this is an important reduction. They also eliminate a lot of mechanical complexity and allow a higher-quality lighting setup. And they offer better performance; Chevrolet says lighting is improved 85 percent.

More important than the headlamps, however, is the Corvette's smaller proportions. The C6 is fully 5 inches shorter than the C5 (3 inches shorter in front, 2 inches shorter in the rear), and it's 1 inch narrower. Its smaller size and lighter weight improve agility. The new Corvette also cuts a tighter, more taut profile. And it does all that without eliminating usable interior space. The more diminutive dimensions give it a more international character, says Chevrolet, allowing it to feel more at home in other parts of the world. Though 5 inches shorter in overall length, the wheelbase has been stretched by more than 1 inch, resulting in shorter overhangs; shorter overhangs improve agility, while the longer wheelbase improves stability. In other words, the wheels have been pushed out toward the corners of the car.

The body work is smoother aerodynamically and generates less lift in front. Translation: better grip, increased stability at high speeds. The sculpted fenders, the sharp creases that sweep dramatically up to the planed rear deck and other aspects of the design call to mind exotic cars, race cars and jet fighters. The narrower rear end is the biggest improvement from a styling standpoint, offering more pleasing proportions.

Viewed from the rear, the four jeweled taillights make the new Corvette look like an F18 taking off in full afterburner mode. The quad tail pipes, black lower diffuser and tiny rear spoiler accented in black, give it the look of an Italian exotic. That tiny spoiler is functional, reducing rear lift at high speeds. Ducts on the trailing edge of the front fenders draw hot air out of the engine compartment. Chevrolet says it spent more than 400 hours in the wind tunnel refining the new design, resulting in numerous subtle and meticulous changes to improve high-speed performance and to route fresh air to the 400-horsepower engine. The windshield wipers are designed to not lift off the windshield until you're going 150 in the rain. The optics of the reverse lights magnifies the light they throw out, helpful when backing up in this beast.