Atomic Orange Tintcoat Metallic: sounds wild, and it is. But beyond this exotic color option, the 2007 Chevrolet Corvettes look essentially the same as the 2006s, and that's not bad at all.

By appearance, the sixth-generation Corvette is less overtly aggressive, perhaps more sophisticated, than its predecessors. From some angles it's almost pretty, and it shows a bit of Italian flair.

Its headlights are an obvious distinction. From the early 1960s, Corvettes used hideaway headlamps to complement their sleek designs, but advances in optics and lighting technology have enabled designers to achieve those goals with exposed headlights. They are lighter, which means less weight hanging out over the front wheels. The exposed lights eliminate the mechanical complexity of hideaways, and they light up the road better than the previous design.

The C6 body work is smoother aerodynamically and generates less lift in front than the C5, which results in better grip and increased stability at high speeds. The sculpted fenders, sharp creases that sweep dramatically up to the planed rear deck and other aspects of the design call to mind race cars as well as jet fighters. The narrower rear end is the biggest improvement from a styling standpoint, offering more pleasing proportions. The four jeweled taillights make the Corvette look like an F-18 taking off in full afterburner mode. On the functional side, the optics of the reverse lights magnify the light they throw out to help when backing up in this beast. To trim weight from the front of the Corvette, the transmission is mounted behind the seats and connected to the differential, rather than being attached directly behind the engine.

In the Z06, this quest for front-rear balance extends to the weight of the battery, which is located in the rear cargo area.

The Z06 is distinguished from other Corvettes by lots of subtle appearance tweaks, starting with the roof. It's fixed rather than removable, adding an extra element of structural stiffness for track driving. You'll never see a transparent plastic roof panel on a Z06.

In front, the Z06 has a wider, lower grille and a separate, unique air scoop above the bumper to shove more intake air under the hood. Its fenders are wider front and rear to cover massively wide tires and rims (the rear wheels are fully 12 inches wide or two inches wider than those on the standard Vette). In back, the Z06 spoiler is slightly more prominent, and its exhaust outlets are wider, too (four inches in diameter at the tips). There are also several Z06 body and chassis changes that aren't apparent to the eye. The frame is made entirely of hydro-formed aluminum (the standard Vettes have steel rails), with a magnesium engine cradle, and its fenders are formed from ultra-light carbon fiber. As a result, and despite a much heavier engine and drivetrain, the Z06 weighs 50 pounds less than a standard Corvette coupe.