If you’re reading this, we can be certain you are familiar with the “LSx” moniker, but recently, GM just submitted an application to trademark the “LTX” mark, possibly for a high-horsepower variant of the direct-injected, GEN V engine family?
While the application was submitted on April 11, 2022, this wasn’t the first time GM has shown interest in those three letters. The corporation secured the term back in 2013 when it applied for trademark status in the United States and Australia. Applications were subsequently re-filed for the US in 2016 and 2019 in Canada. Now it seems the General is still interested in keeping that mark for future use.
Is another beefy block such as the LSx variant from Chevrolet Performance in the works? The thought of one that will combine today’s direct injection and variable valve timing into a race-ready block just seems to make sense with the current line of LT-based engines being used in today’s production vehicles.
Could The LTX Engine Feature Overhead Cams?
Perhaps this new line of engines might utilize all the LT6 goodness such as overhead cams and a flat-plane crankshaft? That would definitely require a new casting. General Motors recently confirmed it has completed wind tunnel testing of its Corvette Z06 GT3.R race car and is planning to do serious track-testing in September of this year.
The Corvette Z06 GT3.R is going to be the civilian version of the C8.R factory racer that will be fielded by third-party customer race teams. The car isn’t scheduled to hit the track in competition until 2024, but having a few spares around might help fulfill the need for blocks. Especially once folks in the aftermarket start boosting this high-revving powerhouse in their street-going Z06 Corvettes.
Whether the LTX engine features dual-overhead cams or not, it’ll be a natural progression of the performance bowtie block from Chevrolet Performance and we hope those three letters gain some traction this time around. We’d love to see some builds with this new variant, especially if they wear all the goodness that makes the LT6 engine so cool! Stay tuned!