Chevy has been putting the Gs in GM since the early 1900s. Okay, so maybe the G-force from the 40-hp engine in the 1911 Classic Six wasn’t quite enough to knock your socks off, but it sure beat a horse and buggy. From these revolutionary roots, Chevy continued to add more and more ponies to its lineup, which brings us to the bowtie brand’s modern roster. It’s loaded with heavy hitters that have power far surpassing the first Chevy, and the lineup is only getting better with new models like the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. Here we have 10 Chevys with at least 10 times the horsepower of the original Classic Six.
#1 – Chevy Blazer EV SS
Speaking of revolutionary, Chevy is doing its part to redefine the performance vehicle. Horsepower gets a fresh face with the upcoming 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. The Blazer nameplate has meant a lot of different things in Chevy’s lineup, starting as an off-roading SUV and being recently revived as a friendly, neighborhood crossover that’s easy on the eyes.
The next iteration of the Blazer is going fully electric with performance specs that might shock you. When they first started popping up, electric vehicles were all about clean energy, and any longtime Chevy fan will tell you environmental friendliness is essentially the antithesis of performance. That’s all changing, though, and the new Blazer EV is living proof. Its top-tier SS trim comes standard with all-wheel drive and an electric powertrain that makes 557 hp. It’s also slated to have 290 miles of range and DC fast charging, getting up to 78 miles of juice in 10 minutes.
#2 – Chevy SS
Fast cars are often accompanied by a certain look. They’re aggressive and sleek, like a carnivorous cat slipping soundlessly through a thicketed landscape. The Chevy SS, on the other hand, is more like a dog with its head stuck out the car window; it’s not trying to be cool at all, but it revels in the joy of its own existence anyways. Plus, it’s fast. The Chevy SS is a true sleeper, with a V8 engine producing 415 hp wrapped in an economy sedan body. It almost looks like a mix-up happened at the factory. The Chevy SS was discontinued in 2017, but lovers of sneaky fast cars will always remember Chevy’s sleepiest sports sedan.
#3 – Chevy Corvette Stingray
The Corvette is backed by a 70-year history of high power and continues to uphold its good name with the newest generation. Its supercar layout and flashy new styling give the mid-engine C8 Corvette Stingray major Ferrari vibes. The relocated engine is a 6.2L V8 that makes up to 495 hp with the optional Z51 Performance Package. It can rocket the car from a stop to 60 mph in under three seconds, accompanied by lightning-fast shifts from the dual-clutch transmission.
#4 – Chevy Camaro SS
Yet another staple in Chevy’s lineup of track-ready vehicles, the Camaro has been rupturing eardrums and blowing off wigs since 1967. Its varied trims and lower price point make the Camaro more versatile than other sporty cars on the market, but it’s still fast enough to be at home on the track. Engine choices include a 2.0L turbocharged I-4, a 3.6L V6, and two different 6.2L V8 options––the V8 in the Camaro SS produces 455 hp. Driving enthusiasts can also rejoice because the Camaro is one of the last vehicles standing that comes with a manual transmission.
#5 – Chevy Silverado HD
The 400-plus horsepower club isn’t exclusive to track-ready cars. Performance takes on many forms in Chevy’s lineup, as demonstrated by the Silverado HD. This heavy-duty pickup has two engine options, both of which are capable of more than 400 hp. The base engine is a 6.6L V8 with 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. The beefier option is a Duramax turbo-diesel good for 445 hp and a whopping 910 lb-ft of torque. Where the Corvette and Camaro’s power is channeled into speed, the Silverado HD is all about heavy hauling. When powered by the diesel engine, it can tow up to 36,000 lbs!
#6 – Chevy Silverado ZR2
Where the Silverado HD is all work, the Silverado ZR2 is all play. It’s powered by a 6.2L V8 with 420 hp and has plenty of goods added to the Silverado 1500 platform to make it ready for off-roading. It gets class-exclusive electronic-locking front and rear differentials and a Multimatic suspension tuned specifically for the ZR2. Rounding out the package are 33-inch off-road tires from Goodyear. Steel bumpers and skid plates are also included, so this pickup can take a few bumps while racing through the forests, deserts, mountains, or wherever else the trail takes it.
#7 – Chevy Tahoe RST
Vehicles like the Chevy Tahoe, which can pack up to nine passengers in its cavernous cabin, are usually reserved for affluent soccer parents. Well, soccer parents like to go fast too, and the Chevy Tahoe has the power to zip around from Pilates to Whole Foods in no time flat. For the 2023 model year, it has three engine options: a 5.0L V8, a 6.2L V8, and a 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel. That middle option––the 6.2L V8––is what pushes this SUV over the 400 hp mark. New for 2023, the RST Performance Package provides an impressive 433 hp.
#8 – Chevy Suburban
The Suburban is like the Tahoe but scaled up, with a longer wheelbase. The extra cargo space and heavier curb weight do not mean a hit in power, however. With the same three engine options for the 2023 model year as the Tahoe, the Suburban can be outfitted with a 6.2L V8 on the RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country trims. However, it doesn’t offer the RST Performance Package, limiting the Suburban to “just” 420 hp.
#9 – Chevy Camaro ZL1
The ZL1 is an ambitious supercar edition of the classic Camaro. It’s powered by GM’s LT4 engine, a supercharged 6.2L V8 that is also found in other overachievers like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and Cadillac Escalade-V. When paired with the Camaro ZL1, the LT4’s power output is an even 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, making this Camaro a serious track weapon. In true sports car form, this supercharged engine comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission, but a 10-speed automatic is also available.
#10 – Chevy Corvette Z06
The Camaro has the ZL1, and the Corvette has the Z06. For the C8 generation, this high-powered variant is equipped with an all-new flat-plane-crank 5.5L V8, which creates a breakneck 670 hp, accompanied by an unmistakable scream. The Z06 is dolled up in every way possible, with race car aerodynamics and loud styling to match its impressive velocity. It’s so extraordinary that Chevy created a feature film detailing the production of the Z06 in order to celebrate its release.
Chevy: A Powerful Leader
The bar for automotive performance keeps getting raised, and it’s not just about the ponies anymore. Cars are expected to be cleaner, more comfortable, and safer, all while being fun and engaging, with horsepower creeping closer and closer to quadruple digits in our daily drivers. Chevy has been leading the pack for decades when it comes to power, and if these 10 cars are any indication, it will continue to do so for years to come.
