General Motors has easily one of the biggest engine portfolios in the global automotive market. Chevrolet, in particular, has built hundreds of millions of engines over the years, and the brand's engineering innovations have birthed new models and entire segments. Introduced in the late '50s, the Chevy small block V8 alone completely changed the American automotive landscape and acted as a catalyst in the golden age of muscle cars in the '60s.

Besides bringing some of the biggest displacement V8 engines to the market – as well as the most powerful – Chevrolet also created countless purpose-built sports and muscle cars that love to rev. Here are a dozen Chevrolet performance cars with the highest redlines on the market.

How we made our model selection: HotCars looked through Chevrolet's history to find the 12 models with the highest factory-set redlines the brand ever sold to the public. All the cars on this list are mass-market, road-legal production cars built and sold by the Chevrolet brand. We've ranked them all according to their redlines, from lowest to highest.

12 1970 Chevrolet Corvette LT1: 6,500 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Debuting in 1967, the C3 was the first Corvette to ever offer a targa-top removable roof panel in 1968. While the base 327 cubic inch engine offered just 300 hp, the C3 Corvette eventually offered a litany of powerful V8 engine options between 1968 and 1983: from a 305 LG4 V8 all the way up to the massive 454 LS6 big block that made the 1970 Chevelle SS an icon.

In this history, one engine does stand out, albeit slightly, for its rev-happy nature: the LT1 featuring in the 1970 Corvettes. It was a 350-cubic inch block paired with a Holley four-barrel carb that produced 370 hp at a steep 6,000 rpm. The redline didn't come until 6,500 though.

It's important to note that Chevrolet built several other cars with 6,500-rpm redlines, such as the Corvette C7 Z06. However, the LT1 in the 1970 Corvette was truly an exciting and high-revving lifter engine. Not to mention, with only 1,281 units ever produced, the 1970 Corvette LT1 is a rare and special car that deserves its spot in the sun.

11 5th-Gen Chevrolet Camaro SS: 6,600 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

The introduction of the 5th-generation Camaro in 2010 marked a significant revival of the iconic pony car nameplate after an 8-year hiatus. Chevy ingeniously teased the Camaro using a 2006 concept that starred as Bumblebee in Transformers (2007).

When the time came to sell the model out to the public, Chevy made sure the Camaro was more powerful than a Mustang GT (412 hp), offering a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 in the SS trim. The engine produces 426 hp at 5,900 rpm but revs up to a respectable 6,600-rpm redline.

10 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06: 6,600 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

After a massive 3-decade hiatus, the 2001 Corvette marked the return of the track-focused Z06 high-performance trim. It incorporates features such as stiffer springs, stabilizer bars, revised shock valves, and titanium exhaust. Even better, the 2001 Z06 marked the return of the LS6 V8, this time specially tuned for the model to produce 385 hp (405 hp in 2002-2004 C5s). To produce peak power, you had to rev the C5 to 6,000 rpm.

9 6th-Gen Chevrolet Camaro SS: 6,600 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Debuting for the 2016 model year, the 6th (and current) generation Camaro shares its platform with the Cadillac ATS and CTS luxury cars. In addition to losing almost a full 400 lbs in just one model year, the 6th-gen Camaro received three main engine options: a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four, an LGX 3.6-liter V6, and a 6.2-liter V8.

The latter is the competent LT1 – a naturally aspirated unit producing a peak 455 hp at 6,000 rpm. It's mated to either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. The redline kicks in at 6,600.

8 The Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray: 6,600 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Debuting for the 2014 model year, the seventh-generation Corvette brought with it several notable improvements over the outgoing model, such as an aluminum frame and chassis, auto rev-matching for manual models, and magnetic ride control.

Interestingly, despite making less power than the track-oriented performance Z06 trim good for 670 hp, the C7 Stingray (which is what Chevrolet calls the base model 'Vette) actually revs 100 rpm higher at 6,600 rpm.

7 2014-2017 Chevrolet SS Sedan: 6,600 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Produced between 2014 and 2017, the Chevrolet SS perfectly summarizes the term "sleeper sedan." Its completely understated looks and boring nomenclature only serve to enhance the appeal of its naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine producing 415 hp and 415 lb-ft.

This fast family hauler will rocket to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. On the way there, you'll hear the LS3 roar to its 6,600-rpm redline.

6 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: 7,000 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

An optional package offered only in 2014 and 2015 Camaros, the Z/28 is easily one of the coolest modern Camaros for enthusiasts. Designed to optimize track performance and weight reduction, it featured a naturally aspirated all-aluminum 7.0-liter LS7 V8 producing 505 hp and 481 lb-ft. The same engine actually features in the C6 Z06 Corvette, but it makes 11 lb-ft more torque in the Camaro.

To reach peak power, the LS7 has to rev to 6,100 rpm, but it only hits redline at 7,000. Despite being designed as a capable track weapon, MotorTrend says the 2015 Camaro Z/28 will do 0-60 in 4 seconds flat.

5 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06: 7,000 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

The first production Corvette built on an all-aluminum chassis, the C6 Z06 also happens to be one of the few true budget-friendly supercars on the used market today. This lightweight (3,130 lbs) track-focused powerhouse gets its juice from a meaty 7.0-liter naturally aspirated LS7 V8 – the same one featured in the Camaro Z/28 – producing 505 hp at 6,300 rpm. The redline is – you guessed it – at 7,000 rpm.

4 1990-1992 Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1: 7,200 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Code-named "king of the hill" during production due to being the fastest and most powerful Corvette ever produced thus far, the Corvette C4 ZR1's nickname stuck throughout the years among gearheads. The engine that earned the ZR1 its notoriety is the 5.7-liter LT5 – a naturally aspirated dual-overhead-cam unit producing 375 hp at 6,000 rpm.

The redline was at an impressive 7,200 rpm. The engine was upgraded to produce even more power (405 hp) in 1993, allowing it to reach a top speed of over 180 mph and making the ZR1 'Vette one of the fastest sports cars of the '90s.

3 2012-2014 Chevrolet Camaro V6: 7,200 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

First offered for the 2012 model year Camaro, the 3.6-liter LFX V6 was a 323-hp direct-injection unit offered to replace the outgoing 312-hp LLT V6 in the 2010-2011 models. It was not only more powerful but also loved to rev. Peak power on these may not match a V8, but it happens at a fun 6,800 rpm. And while the redline may be at 7,200 rpm, owners on Chevrolet Camaro forums frequently testify to being able to increase their redlines to over 8,000.

2 2016 Chevrolet Camaro V6: 7,200 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Instead of axing the V6 to please purist muscle car fans, Chevrolet once again perfected its staple V6 offering with the introduction of the LGX engine. Like the LFX and LLT before it, the LGX is a 3.6-liter unit, but this time it produces even more power and torque at 335 hp and 284-lb.

Chevy also made the LGX more fuel-efficient than the outgoing LFX thanks to features such as cylinder deactivation technology. However, the redline remains the same at 7,200 rpm.

1 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06: 8,600 RPM

Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

The highest-revving and arguably most thrilling production car Chevrolet has ever produced, the 2024 Corvette C8 Z06 needs little introduction. It features a brand-new naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter flat-plane crank LT6 V8, which is mid-mounted for added stability and acceleration.

Without the necessary aid of forced induction, this relatively small V8 needs to rev to a stratospheric 8,400 rpm to make its peak 670 hp, which is only 100 rpm below its 8,600-rpm redline. The Z06 makes 180 hp more than the standard V8 and reaches 60 mph in 2.6 seconds (compared to the C8's 2.9), even if Chevrolet might not be able to change the Z06's tires for you.