Supercharged GM V8s: Decoding the LSA Engine & Its Legacy
General Motors’ LSA engine-a supercharged 6.2-liter V8-delivered considerable performance to a select group of vehicles before being superseded by newer technology. Understanding the LSA’s origins and applications provides insight into a pivotal era of American muscle and high-performance engineering. The engine’s designation, “LSA,” stands for “Large Supercharged Aluminum,” reflecting its core components and construction.
Introduced in 2009, the LSA initially powered the second-generation Cadillac CTS-V, producing 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque. The CTS-V,available as a sedan,coupe,and wagon,became a performance benchmark,even achieving a sub-eight-minute lap time at the Nürburgring-a frist for a sedan. Both six-speed manual and automatic transmissions were offered. This engine marked Cadillac’s serious entry into the high-performance sedan market, challenging established European rivals.
In 2012, Chevrolet expanded the LSA’s reach to the Camaro ZL1, where it was further tuned to 580 hp and 556 lb-ft of torque. Concurrently, the engine found its way to Australia with the Holden HSV GTS, maintaining the ZL1’s power output. The LSA’s broad request demonstrated GM’s commitment to leveraging its engineering across multiple brands and markets.
By 2015,GM began phasing out the LSA in favor of the LT4 engine-first seen in the C7 Corvette Z06 and later the third-generation cadillac CTS-V. The LT4 offered increased power and torque, representing the next step in GM’s supercharged V8 progress. While the LSA’s production run was relatively short, its impact on performance car enthusiasts remains significant, solidifying its place in automotive history.
