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In A Scenario Dominated By Electrified Solutions, The Validation Of The LT7 Confirms That There Is Still Space For High-Revving Machines And Great Torque, Next To Hybrids And Electrics That Form 9 Of 10 Choices Of The Prestigious Selection
The electrification has ceased to be a promise and has become a rule in the automotive sector. For years, we talked about how everyday cars — and even the most extreme sports cars — would be assisted by batteries or completely powered by electricity. Now, this is a fact: nine out of ten recognized powertrains in the Wards 10 Best Powertrains utilize some level of electrification. The only exception is the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 with the V8 LT7, a 5.5-liter twin-turbo engine that reminds us why combustion engines still deliver experiences that are hard to replace.
The Wards curation has existed for 31 years and has reflected the paradigm shifts in the industry. Until 2020, the list was called “10 Best Engines”; at the turn of the decade, the name was expanded to “Best Engines and Propulsion Systems,” encompassing batteries, hybrids, and powertrains that combine combustion and electric engines. The information was released by “The Drive”, which detailed the achievement of the Corvette ZR1 amid the dominance of electrified vehicles and recalled the historical evolution of the award.
The 10 Winners: Heavily Electrified, With A Purebred V8 Holding The Flag For Combustion
The Wards does not rank the awardees — they are presented in alphabetical order. Still, the list highlights the new balance of forces between electric power, hybrid efficiency, and classic gasoline performance. Check out the complete overview:
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The Toyota Hilux is R$ 75.5 thousand cheaper and bets on the 2.8 turbodiesel engine with up to 204 hp and 50.9 kgfm to catch up with the VW Saveiro, which leads with 4,472 sales.
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The new Renault Koleos has a screen exclusively for the passenger that is invisible to the driver, heated rear seats, and 29 assistance systems, but its Chinese competitors cost R$ 40,000 less and deliver more power.
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The car stored for 38 years: when opening the barn door, what appears is breathtaking and looks like a scene from a movie!
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Fiat works miracles in the Brazilian market, lowers the price of its 0 km hatch to R$ 69,990, reestablishes the model as the cheapest car in the country, and reignites the battle against Kwid and C3.
- BMW M5 – 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo PHEV
- Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – 5.5L V8 Twin-Turbo (LT7)
- Dodge Charger Daytona – Electric Propulsion System
- Ford F-150 – 3.5L V6 Twin-Turbo HEV (winner returning in 2024)
- Honda Civic Hybrid – 2.0L I4 HEV (winner returning in 2024) — named our Car of the Year for 2024
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 – Electric Propulsion System
- Lexus LX – 700h 3.4L V6 Twin-Turbo HEV
- Lucid Gravity – Electric Propulsion System
- Mercedes-AMG E53 – 3.0L I6 Twin-Turbo PHEV
- Nissan Leaf – Electric Propulsion System
Although some hybrids feature robust gasoline engines as their base, the message is clear: electrification occupies 90% of the symbolic podium of 10 spots. And while no one is going to “place the Nissan Leaf above the ZR1” in terms of brutality, each winner represents a significant technological milestone in its category.
LT7: The 5.5-Liter “Flat-Plane” V8 With The Largest Turbochargers Ever Seen In A Production Car
The heart of the Corvette ZR1 is a 5.5-liter V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, high-revving, aggressive, and built for big numbers. It carries the largest turbochargers ever installed in a production car: two 76-millimeter compressors. Without any battery assistance, the LT7 delivers 1,064 hp (horsepower) and 828 lb-ft of torque. In other words, it is the glorious stubbornness of internal combustion at its finest — a piece of engineering that captivates both by its specs and its character.
According to Dustin Gardner, Assistant Chief Engineer of the program, the LT7 is part of a long-term plan that includes the LT6. “These engines [LT6 and LT7] — the Gemini twins, as we call them — I have been working on them for over seven years. It has always been the plan. The C8 architecture was born to enable this: the LT6, being tall, could never fit in the front, and the LT7, being wide, requires a chassis like this to utilize both power and torque. Place 1,000 hp in a front-engine car, and you won’t be able to use it all.”
Why The ZR1 Alone? Context, Performance, And Impact On Automotive Culture
The solitary presence of the V8 LT7 among nine electrified vehicles says a lot about where we are going and what we still value. On one hand, hybrids and electrics dominate for efficiency, emissions, and immediate response. On the other, the Corvette ZR1 delivers visceral immersion, sound, throttle response, and sensations that remain part of the identity of the sports car.
This years-long investment pays off not only in spreadsheets but also on stopwatches. Times under seven minutes at Nürburgring place the Corvette ZR1 in hypercar territory, proving that downforce, thermal, intake, and mid-engine architecture converge to transform raw power into usable performance. And that is without the help of a lithium-ion pack.
As highlighted by The Drive while bringing together all the winners, the Wards 10 Best Powertrains is not a “race” with a numerical podium; still, the contrast between one 100% gasoline solution and nine electrified ones symbolizes the transitional moment we are living in. Instead of lamenting the “end” of classic engines, the more productive interpretation is to realize that technical excellence finds its ways — whether through electrification or a twin-turbo V8 that pushes combustion to the limit in 2025.
What This Signals For Enthusiasts And The Market In The Coming Years
For enthusiasts, the message is reassuring: as long as there is regulatory margin and demand, there will be manufacturers willing to invest in high-power engines. For the market, the trend is clear: plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and hybrids (HEV) continue to serve as relevant bridges, while pure electrics expand their range and maturity.
In this arena, solutions like BMW M5 PHEV (4.4L V8) and Mercedes-AMG E53 PHEV (3.0L I6) show that electrification can enhance performance without sacrificing mechanical sensations. Meanwhile, names like Lucid Gravity, Hyundai Ioniq 9, and Nissan Leaf reiterate that 100% electric propulsion remains a primary driver of innovation, industrial productivity, and new business models.
At the same time, Ford F-150 PowerBoost (3.5L V6 HEV) and Honda Civic Hybrid (2.0L I4 HEV) — winners returning in 2024 — indicate consistency and scale: these are platforms that have matured, delivering efficiency without neglecting usability. Not surprisingly, the Civic Hybrid was named our Car of the Year for 2024, reinforcing that low consumption and good dynamics can coexist.
In the end, the image of 2025 is less about “combustion versus electric” and more about engineering applied to purpose. The LT7 of the Corvette ZR1 proves that combustion still has decisive cards, while the other winners attest that electrifying is enhancing — whether in urban consumption or on a quick lap.
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