2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray LT1 Engine is One of the Industry's Best

For each of the last 20 years, Ward’s Auto names their top ten best engines in the American market and for the 2014 year, Ward’s chose the powerful LT1 V8 that powers the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Corvette Stingray Convertible. Technically, Ward’s is recognizing both the LT1 engine from the Stingray and the similar L86 EcoTec3 V8 from the GMC Sierra Denali…both of which are fresh introductions from the 5th generation of the GM small block engine program. While these engines both use the tried and true push rod technology that has served GM so well for more than 50 years, the LT1 and L86 both feature cutting edge engine technology including direct injection and cylinder deactivation (aka Active Fuel Management). This technology allows these engines to be incredibly powerful while still delivering excellent fuel economy measures.

In the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the LT1 V8 offers 460 horsepower and 465lb-ft of torque while also hitting 17 miles per gallon around town and 29 miles per gallon on the open road. These figures make the 2014 Stingray the most powerful “base” Corvette ever but it is also the most efficient Corvette ever. The L86 in the 2014 GMC Sierra Denali uses the same engine block, cylinder heads and crankshaft as the Corvette’s LT1 but the truck version of the 5th gen GM small block utilizes unique intake and exhaust components along with an engine tune that allows it to better do “truck stuff”. The L86 engine in the Sierra Denali packs 420 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque while offering better than 20 miles per gallon on the highway – making this engine the most powerful gasoline engine while still offering very solid fuel economy. The 5th generation GM small block will likely also power the upcoming Corvette Z06 with the new name LT4 and a big supercharger.

When you consider the fact that the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and 2014 GMC Sierra Denali both rely on the same core engine components, there is no question that the LT1and L86 deserve to be recognized as being one (or technically two) of the best engines sold in North America. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the most powerful base Corvette in a very, very long list of incredible performance cars and in the hotly contested modern truck class, it is saying a great deal for the 2014 Sierra Denali to be the most powerful gasoline truck in the segment. Even if it were only for the Corvette’s LT1, it is hard to deny best engine honors to an engine which provides more power to the Corvette than any base engine in the history of the storied sports car – while still hitting almost 30mpg.

The green movement nonsense that insists that all large, high performance engines will soon be dead due government restrictions has shaken up quite a few people in the world of American performance cars as they fret that one day, the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette will soon be forced to resort to an anemic small engine. The new LT1 V8 shows that a powerful American V8 can make big power and still offer great fuel economy for a performance car. The LT1 is one of the best engines sold in America because it is living, breathing proof that high performance V8 engines arent going anywhere anytime soon.