General Motors will invest $888million in its Tonawanda plant in New York to produce a new sixth-generation small-block V8 engine – the largest single-site internal combustion investment announced by the company to date.

The move comes as part of a broader push to expand its petrol-powered portfolio. Alongside the Tonawanda funding, GM is investing another $854million across several facilities, including $579million earmarked for the Flint engine plant. These funds will support upgrades in tooling, equipment, and manufacturing processes needed for large-scale V8 production.

“This investment underscores our commitment to delivering power, capability and efficiency in the vehicles our customers rely on every day,” said Gerald Johnson, GM’s executive vice president of Global Manufacturing. “The small-block V8 has been a pillar of our propulsion strategy for decades, and this next generation will build on that legacy.”

Tonawanda will serve as the core production site, though technical details of the new engine remain under wraps. GM first announced plans for a sixth-generation small-block in early 2023, but has yet to reveal engineering specifications or power outputs. Naturally, the company says the new unit will offer more performance, improved fuel economy, and reduced emissions compared to the outgoing version.

The small-block V8 has been a constant presence in GM’s line-up since its debut in 1955. Its evolution has powered everything from workhorse pickups to Le Mans-winning Corvettes, and it remains one of the most enduring engine families in the industry. Initial applications for the new engine will include GM’s full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe, GMC’s Sierra and Yukon, and the Cadillac Escalade.

There’s no official word on high performance applications yet, but given the small-block’s history in sports and muscle cars, a future Corvette variant remains entirely plausible – despite GM’s recent adoption of electrified models like the hybrid E-Ray and the recent British-designed concept vehicle.

Interestingly, this renewed focus on internal combustion follows an earlier $300million pledge for EV-related production at the same plant. That investment, part of a tentative agreement with the UAW in 2023, appears to have been overtaken by the new V8 programme – or at the very least, delayed.

While many manufacturers are doubling down on electrification, GM’s dual investment strategy suggests there is plenty of life yet in the internal combustion engine, and our world is that little bit richer with the small-block V8 in it.