Power, Passion, Precision... that's the sixth generation C6 Corvette for you!

The Corvette has been America's most revered and respected home-grown sports car for sometime, and was last evolved in 1997.

The C6 meanwhile, looks significantly refreshing and for the first time since 1962, does not sport pop-up headlights. It however retains trademark Corvette styling cues.

The performance too has been given a boost thanks to the LS2-designated mill, which is essentially a 6.0-litre small-block V8 based on the new Gen IV family of engines. The vitals are impressive: 400lb-ft@4400rpm and 400bhp@6000rpm. More than dynamometer numbers, the LS2 engine's range of power and torque is broad and very useable in everyday driving, as we found out in the course of this road test.

The sixth generation C6 Corvette is much sleeker than its C5 predecessor and is shorter overall by almost 13cm, giving the new model a tauter, more defined and assertive appearance. And this was proven time and time again with passer-bys giving the 'Vette lustful looks.

Transferring 534Nm of torque to the rear wheels is the tried and tested Tremec T56 six-speed manual gearbox, offered in two styles - standard, and a sports version with more aggressive ratios, reserved for Corvette's Z51 Performance Package, fundamentally the C5's Z06 successor.

Firing up the car is an oh-so-cool starter-button and our test car came with a reconfigurable heads-up display, which is clearly readable in all weather conditions. When I took the C6 from the Chevrolet dealer in Dubai, I was like a young teenager on his first date with emotions of nervousness and excitement both, flowing freely and strongly.

Slotting the car into first of the six manual ratios available and I was off, trying hard not to induce wheelspin in those massive rear tyres, lest someone thought I was showing off. Power is prodigious and can be felt with every thump of the superb Tremec gearbox. This is a car that demands to be driven hard and fast and boy, does it deliver

The Corvette C6 is a true driver's car and we recommend the manual gear version to anyone who is looking to get one. Despite its credentials as a sports car, the C6 Corvette was surprisingly docile to drive about in town and can be as civil mannered as a High Street gentleman.