GM’s New Made-in-Canada Motors are Among the Highest Output V8s in the Game

General Motors’ next-generation pickup trucks will be powered by a pair of next-generation V8 engines that are made in Canada. That includes the new 6.6L small block that is the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 in its class.

“These new V8 engines advance GM’s legendary Small Block architecture with greater capability,” said Tom Bishop, the chief engineer for Small Block engines at GM. “They’re engineered to provide truck customers the confidence and performance they expect from a GM V8.”

The new engines will find their ways into Chevrolet and GMC light-duty pickup trucks, and are an upgrade over the departing 5.3L and 6.2L V8s. To start, their displacements have been increased to 5.2L and 6.6L thanks to 6 mm of extra piston stroke.

Beyond just growing in size, the new engines also get larger diameter throttles, new intake manifolds with tuned runners for more airflow, and a higher compression ratio for more efficient combustion.

The result is 402 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque from the 5.7L engine, an increase of 47 hp and 45 lb-ft of torque over the outgoing 5.3L engine. Meanwhile, the 6.6L engine’s 481 hp and 501 lb-ft of torque make it the most powerful, naturally-aspirated V8 in the segment. They also represent an increase of 61 hp and 41 lb-ft of torque over the outgoing 6.2L engine.

In addition to being more powerful, the new V8s also benefit from a dual-fuel system and combines port and direct injection for wider power and efficiency windows as well as new lubrication system. GM says that these updates will make the powertrains better for everyday use and will improve towing. Indeed, the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra will have best-in-class max towing, thanks to an increase from 6,033 kg (13,300 lbs) in the outgoing trucks to 6,214 kg (13,700 lbs) in the next-generation trucks’ most towing optimized trims.

As previously announced, that will be Canadian power — at least in some cases. The new V8 engines will be produced at GM’s St. Catherines Propulsion plant, alongside GM’s Flint Engine Operations, in Michigan, and Tonawanda Propulsion, in New York.

The new engines will be offered alongside the returning Duramax 3.0L TurboDiesel engine, which makes 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, and the enhanced TurboMax engine, that makes 350 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque.

Further information about trims, technology, and pricing for GM’s next-generation 1500s is expected later this month.

2027 GM Light Duty Pickup Truck Engine Specs

Engine	Horsepower	Torque	Max Towing	Max Payload
Turbomax	350	455 lb-ft	4,264 kg/9,400 lbs	1,061 kg/2,340 lbs (Silverado)
3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel	305	495 lb-ft	5,488 kg/12,100 lbs (Sierra)	848 kg/1,870 lbs (Silverado)
5.7L V8 (L76)	402	428 lb-ft	6,214 kg/13,700 lbs (Silverado)	984 kg/2,170 lbs (Silverado)
6.6L V8 (L78)	481	501 lb-ft	4,400 /9,700 lbs (Silverado)	685 kg/1,510 lbs (Silverado)