Glide on elegance and power

Corvette's 6.2-litre Stingray is stunning, driveable and surprisingly practical

- Christopher Tan

Poetry in motion: The Stingray may not be the quickest supercar in town, but the way it delivers speed and sound is addictive.

(ST PHOTOS: CHONG JUN LIANG)

Once upon a time, supercars were not for the faint of heart.

They were uncompromising and uncomfortable, which made them accessible only to expert drivers - or those who fancied themselves as expert drivers.

The most challenging of such cars I have sampled include the Lotus Esprit (1976 to 2004) and Lamborghini Diablo (1990 to 2001).

In 1990, Honda launched the NSX, a supercar which was almost as easy to drive as a Civic.

Quarter of a century later, it unveiled the second-generation NSX, which was a far more complex car with its three-motor hybrid system but which remained as user-friendly as the first.

The new Corvette Stingray reminds me of the NSX. Despite its intimidating credentials - 6.2-litre V8, three-second century sprint and 312kmh top speed - the American two-seater is as well-mannered and refined as a Cadillac.

In fact, the suite of features in the Stingray would not be out of place in a Cadillac. It has a crisp head-up display, ventilated seats, proximity-triggered door lock and unlock, six drive modes with adaptive suspension settings, memory seat with adjustable lumbar support, dual-zone climate control, infotainment touchscreen with wireless phone pairing, and an impressively speedy wireless phone charger.