LT5 Axed by GM, End of the Epic 755-HP Legacy
Recognized as the flagship unit powering the C7 ZR1 Corvette, the insane performance of the LT5 only graced consumers for a single year.
Out with the old, in with the new, it seems. GM has made it official that the pinnacle of Chevy performance that left us in awe as the heart of the flagship C7 ZR1 Corvette, the 6.2-Liter GM LT5 V8, is now discontinued.
The supercharged 6.2-liter LT5 engine was by far the most powerful product in the brand’s lineup. To date, it still is the most powerful engine Chevy has produced, at 755 HP and 715 lbs-ft of torque.
Unfortunately for the absolute tank of an engine, its jaw-dropping spec sheet meant that its application was going to be very limited in the Chevy lineup. There simply aren’t too many cars you could realistically fit that engine into.
Thus, the brand made the engine available as a standalone crate engine as part of their performance parts catalog. Imagine being able to throw this short block into your project car.
Still the Most Powerful Engine Ever Offered by GM
Back when it was available, the engine alone was being sold at about $20k MSRP. Considering a 2019 ZR1 started its MSRP at $122k and many optioned vehicles costed well more than that, this was overall a good deal for a powerplant this capable.
When compared to the LT4 it was replacing, it was not only more powerful but also more efficient. The engine was GM’s first use of dual fuel injection along with utilizing a 64% larger supercharger displacement compared to the LT4.
We would have loved to see this beast of a powerplant utilized in something like a special edition send-off Camaro model. Although the 650 HP found in the ZL1 is no doubt extreme, we hoped to see an IROC-inspired model with the LT5 to let all hell break loose.
Well, as you may have noticed, times are changing and GMs products must change with it. There really isn’t any financial viability for GM to use the LT5 anymore, even to the extent they won’t be stocking them for potential customers either.
GM’s Future for High-Performance V8s?
Does this engine phase-out have some positive implications, however? Perhaps so, as it might mean that we are getting closer to the expected next-generation V8 replacement, known as the LT6.
So far we know that this engine will find its home in the soon-to-be-released track-focused C8 Z06 model. The LT6 will be a significant departure from the C7 Z06s’ supercharged powerplant, but will rather more closely resemble the naturally aspirated LS7 found in the C6 Z06.
C7 Z06 had constantly found reliability and overheating issues on track with the supercharged unit, thus, harking back the return to a simpler naturally aspirated powerplant.
However, lack of boost will not lead to a lack of excitement, as this engine is still due to have over 600 HP from its unique exotic-toned flat-plane crank 5.5L V8.
So while we bid farewell for now to one of the greatest V8s ever produced, we still expect the best to come from GM in the future. Next month should be an eventful one.
Photos: Chevrolet
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