Why 2022 Will be a Big Year for the LS Platform
From shutdowns to navigating a rocky chip shortage, GM is coming out of the gate swinging for 2022 with a killer LS roster.
Between intermittent factory shutdowns, to the birth of a world-breaking naturally-aspirated flat plane V8, General Motors’ year-in was no less a rollercoaster. Despite the massive push for EV, the LS platform is going strong into 2022.
Let’s take a look back at a monumental trip around the sun for the LS family.
Chevrolet Intros Goliath 10.3L 632 CI Turnkey with 1,004 HP!
As we all know, Chevrolet Performance has a mighty roster of crate engines for nearly every application. GM engineers tinkered around with its largest turnkey engine, the 727 HP ZZ572, bored it 0.40 over, gave it a longer stroke and boom–277 more horses! Enter the naturally-aspirated ZZ632/1000.
GM showcased the beastly motor at SEMA 2021. Best of all, it makes all this power all on pump gas. Though we suspect most will use a higher octane on the strip.
GM Performance Discontinues Legendary 755-HP LT5
Once known as the capstone of GM performance, the supercharged 6.2-Liter GM LT5 V8 was the flagship engine for the bonkers 2019 Chevrolet C7 Corvette ZR1. At the time, it was the most powerful, supercharged production car in the world, aptly donning the “King” moniker with pride. Alas, its discontinuation sparked lament, and a great deal of speculation and debate about the future.
Naturally, GM also released it as a crate engine. Alas, GM retired the LT5 after only one year of standalone availability. Despite the modern-day horsepower wars nearing the end (rising fuel economy standards, stricter emissions, EVs, etc), GM Performance is not going anywhere.
Corvette Z06 Returns with Monstrous N/A Power
Chevrolet shocked the world (again) with the C8 when it debuted the long-awaited 2023 C8 Corvette Z06. It’s flat plane 5.5-liter LT6 makes 670 HP (460 lbs/ft of torque without boost, making it the (currently) the most powerful naturally-aspirated production vehicle in the world.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 shares DNA with the C8.R, and can rev up to 8,600 RPM. Remarkably, the upcoming Z06 will best many exotic options both in speed and price, starting at $87K.
COPO Camaro Wins 3rd-Straight NHRA Factory Stock Showdown
NHRA’s Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown closed out 2021 with a solid win for the COPO Camaro at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Hailing from Bossier City, Louisiana, champion Aaron Stanfield won for the second race in a row and third time in 2021 against Mopar racing legend Leah Pruett.
Hoonigan Shocks SEMA with 632 Big Block Camaro
Long Beach, California-based Hoonigan rocked SEMA 2021 with a totally unexpected third-gen swap with the GM ZZ632–which had only been released barely weeks ago at the time!
This car was built in only 21 days after Chevrolet provided Hoonigan with both the first ZZ632/1000 crate engine and the beautifully-maintained Camaro. It is far more than just a LS swap, though; full suspension work, racing wheels, etc. Take a look at the entire build series on their on their Youtube channel.
Specialty Vehicle Engineering Ekes 1,100 HP from Stage 2022 Yenko Camaro
Inspired by the original, iconic 1969 COPO Camaro, the Yenko/SC raised the bar with even more horsepower for 2022. The engine block is the identical to the LT1, however the displacement is now 6.8 liters vs 6.2, and the size is now 416 cubic inches vs 376. It also comes with a forged steel rotating assembly
Take a look at this beast on the dyno. And like Lays potato chips, we bet you won’t be able to do it just once.
All things considered, the LS platform is not going anywhere, anytime soon. With a solid 2021 behind them now, GM is set to have a killer 2022 and we’ll be ready for any new easter eggs!
Photos: Chevrolet, GM, Michael Palmer Specialty Vehicle Engineering
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