The design of the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is close to being an undisputed knockout, which is very impressive considering the car’s developers started with a blank sheet of paper, both for the car’s exterior as well as the platform underpinning it all.

From its distinct aeronautical lines to its intricate ventilation systems to its sleek, sculpted finish, the new Corvette, the seventh generation of the popular American sports car, looks good from almost every angle.

What’s even more impressive is the fact that the new Corvette looks this good despite the design being largely dictated by function. But at the same time, there were a number of purely stylistic traits that also helped shape the car.

In this latest video from Chevrolet, the exterior design manager for the Corvette's exterior, Kirk Bennion, explains that there were five main goals for the design team when determining the look of the car. Bennion has been working on the design team for the Corvette since as far back as 1986 and he’s fully aware of the responsibility of penning each version of the American icon.

One of the goals, which proved controversial, was dramatically changing the rear styling. Gone are the round tail-lights that have featured on most Corvette models throughout history, replaced instead with a much more angular set of lights reminiscent of those on the Camaro.

Some fans have been so outraged by the look that they’ve already come up with round tail-light mods for the 2014 Corvette Stingray--before the car has even reached showrooms.

Find out what Bennion has to say about this, plus the rest of the design, by hitting play.

And for our latest coverage on the Chevrolet Corvette, click here.