Yeah, yeah, we asked for a 2012 Cobra Jet the other day, but our brand allegiances are pretty weak around here. We have love for pretty much all of ’em, especially when 720hp are involved. GM recently announced the new LSX454R drag race engine which is available for purchase through GM Performance Parts. This motor is muy bad ass, has an all forged rotating assembly and packs 720 lb/ft of torque to match that 720hp. OOGA BOOGA!

Not surprisingly, GM thinks that this would be the perfect engine to plop into the front of the newly available Camaro body-in white cars. We’re no math majors, but when we start adding up the fact that Chevy is selling “body in white” rollers, and this crazed drag race motor, a factory drag package may not be all that far behind.

The major thing that sets this engine apart from the “typical” built to the hilt LS mill is the new LSX DR (Drag Race) cylinder head offered by GMPP. The heads have an 11-degree valve angle, six bolts per cylinder, and raised ports that GM claims have “tremendous” air flow. On top of the heads rests a high rise open plenum intake manifold and an 1,150 Holley Dominator carb.

We’d like to see one of these brutes in an LSR machine to see how it would work in that environment as well as the drags. Hey, we know a guy with a Camaro…

Here’s the full release from GM Performance Parts:

GRAND BLANC, Mich. – GM Performance Parts’ (GMPP) announces the all-new LSX454R crate engine (part number 19257880), a 720-horsepower drag racing engine that is the most powerful small-block V-8 engine ever engineered by General Motors.

The LSX454R is officially rated at 720 horsepower and 720 lb.-ft. of torque, with a very strong, all-forged rotating assembly and optimized high-rpm airflow developed by GMPP engineers.

“The LSX454R uses the latest LSX parts and factory-engineered technology to take LS performance to the next level,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, product integration manager for GM Performance Parts. “This is a great engine to use when building a cutting-edge drag car with one of our new Camaro bodies in white.”

Growth in the popularity of LS-based drag racing helped drive the design and development of the LSX454R. It brings together many of the specialized GMPP LSX parts racers are already using, including the robust LSX Bowtie block, and offers a ready-built engine that is competitive out of the crate.

GMPP engineers designed the LSX454R for the unique, high-rpm demands of drag racing. It is a high-compression, solid-roller combination that uses new LSX DR cylinder heads (part number 19166979). The 11-degree, six-bolt aluminum heads feature raised ports that provide tremendous airflow. They are matched on the engine with an exclusive, all-new high-rise open-plenum intake manifold and a Holley 1,150-cfm Dominator carburetor.  

The LSX DR heads and matching intake manifold are available separately.