by Legendary LS9 engine officially discontinued
Chevrolet has discontinued production of the iconic LS9 engine, which once set new performance standards. This 6.2-liter supercharged V8 debuted over 18 years ago in the C6 Corvette ZR1 and later became one of the most renowned powertrains in American automotive history.
History and technical specifications
Chevrolet introduced the C6 Corvette ZR1 over 18 years ago. Production of the car itself ended in 2013, but the engine that made it legendary — the 6.2-liter supercharged LS9 — continued to live on. It was used in the limited series HSV GTSR W1 in Australia and later received a second life as a crate engine. Now that second life has ended. Unfortunately, Chevy Performance has quietly discontinued the LS9 for good.
Until recently, the LS9, available directly from Chevrolet Performance, was an ideal choice for those planning a bold engine swap or building a project. Chevy left no stone unturned in developing the engine for the C6 ZR1, allowing it to produce 638 hp at 6500 rpm and 604 lb-ft (819 Nm) of torque at 3800 rpm — figures that seemed incredible at launch.
It is worth noting that the C6 ZR1 had more power than the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640. In addition to the large supercharger, Chevy equipped the LS9 with a forged steel crankshaft, titanium connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, titanium intake valves, and sodium-filled exhaust valves.
Engine that conquered the world
Chevrolet began selling the LS9 from the ZR1 as a crate engine in early 2009, initially priced at around $21,000. If you search, you can find a retailer or tuning shop that still has an LS9 in stock, but with production ending, remaining units will quickly disappear.
Fortunately, high-performance crate engines from Chevy are not disappearing. As Corvette Blogger notes, the company hinted at a new offering via an Instagram post, showing an intake manifold with the caption “Something BIG is coming.” Most likely, this refers to a powertrain based on the 6.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 LS6, introduced with the 2027 Corvette.
An Instagram post from Chevrolet Performance hints at a new powerful engine.
Several other crate engines are currently available from Chevy. These include the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 LT4 from the C7 Z06, which produces 650 hp and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm), as well as the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 LT1 with 450 hp and 455 lb-ft (617 Nm).
The discontinuation of the LS9 marks the end of an entire era in American engine history. This powertrain became a symbol of engineering excellence and power that influenced the development of high-performance vehicles. Although the LS9 is no longer in production, its legacy lives on in new Chevrolet developments that promise even more power and innovation. The emergence of the new 6.7-liter LS6 engine shows that the company does not intend to rest on its laurels but continues to evolve its legendary V8 lineup, adapting them to modern requirements.
