Chevrolet changed the Corvette Stingray from a typical front-engine sports car to a mid-engine vehicle with the C8 generation, resulting in much more exotic proportions and styling. But can the design be made better with round taillights? That's a question that US-based tuner Competition Carbon has sought to answer with its newly developed retrofit kit, which is scheduled to open orders next week.

On the one hand, the C8 was berated at debut for arriving with taillights that seemed to be more in keeping with a Camaro than a Corvette, and this does something to address that purported issue. On the other hand, round taillights were last seen on a Corvette in the front-engine C6. There, it's clear that the car was always meant to incorporate such a design feature, but we're not sure it works so well on the edgy C8.

No offence, but the rendered design looks like it borrows taillights from a horsebox trailer. However, on closer inspection (see the embedded video below), much more detail becomes apparent. The taillights have an infinity mirror effect, and despite using "an off-the-shelf solution," it looks pretty well finished.

But it appears that, instead of designing a bezel or some sort of flush-fitting taillight cluster, the company has opted to simply fit the taillights with a panel shaped the same as the original taillights. Originally, a different solution was planned that looked far more bespoke, but supply issues have prevented the more attractive (in this writer's opinion) option from becoming a reality.

Regardless, this is an eye-catching means of making the Stingray stand out a little.

The original design shown below looked far more complex and certainly suited the character of the Corvette more. With a basic body-color trim panel, the C8 looks like it's auditioning for 2 Fast 2 Furious. If that's your thing, pricing is being worked out and will be announced sometime before deposits are accepted next week. While you're at it, you may as well put some money down for the C8's aggressive Liberty Walk kit.

Alternatively, your money might be better spent on enhancing performance. Hennessey recently unleashed a 708-horsepower supercharger package for the C8, and it sounds incredible.