When the original Chevrolet Corvette Stingray debuted five decades ago, Zora Arkus-Duntov, one of the key creators of the Corvette, is claimed to have said, “For the first time, I now have a Corvette I can be proud to drive in Europe.” We could very well imagine a lot of people saying the same thing about the all-new Corvette Stingray.

The original Stingray-named Corvette, which started with the car’s second generation in the early 1960s, brought about dramatic changes in refinement and style and made America’s sports car a much more competitive model against European sports car of the time. The new Stingray takes similar leaps and is now a more impressive car for the global stage. The one thing that remains constant, however, is how much fun the Corvette is to drive. And that’s good news for sports car fans everywhere, no matter what Chevy has decided to call it.

While Chevrolet’s decision to bring back the legendary Stingray nameplate may be the most obvious sign that the Corvette is all new for 2014, the changes go way beyond the chrome stingray silhouettes that have been added to the front fenders. Outside, the new angular styling gives this latest version of the iconic American sports car a much more aggressive look. The handsome driver-focused cockpit receives an equally extensive makeover as well, with noticeably nicer materials and new technology features. Under the Stingray’s skin is a more powerful V8 engine that’s also more fuel-efficient than before.