During a Speed UTV live show on February 23, 2023 (Speed UTV Live Presentation No. 108), Robby Gordon made an announcement that during the show, most didn’t take all that seriously. But the next day, Speed UTV cropped out the specific section of the show where Robby announced the new Mad Max LS7-powered El Diablo (watch below).
Apparently, Robby is not too happy that race organizations are allowing the Polaris RZR Pro R with a 2000cc engine to race with UTVs whose classes used to be capped at 1000cc. He also mentioned a rumored 1300cc engine that according to him, Can-Am will be using in their new sport UTV.
Speed UTV El Diablo – Robby says it was designed to fit an LS7
To combat this change in rules by The Mint 400, SCORE, and Best in the Desert, Robby announced that he will be offering an LS7-powered El Diablo mated to an Albins transmission. He mentioned that the El Diablo was created so a V8 LS7 would fit and that he was looking forward to racing a 7-liter El Diable against the 2-liter Pro R in the Open Class.
Speed UTV recently had their first ten customers out for a show & tell and ride in Lake Havasu and claims to be on schedule to deliver hundreds more by mid-year. This “production release” comes on the heels of a dismal showing at King of the Hammers for Robby and Max Gordon with their Speed UTVs (watch below).
We are routing for Speed UTV to be successful and push the UTV market forward, but so far, Robby seems to be stepping in dog poo. Instead of slowing down to clean off his shoes and change paths, he doubles down on his haters and steps in more. If nothing else, Robby sure is bringing some excitement to the industry. Who is going to be the first to plunk down a deposit on the Mad Max LS7-powered El Diablo?
More LS7 Information
The LS7 engine is a V8 engine produced by General Motors for use in high-performance vehicles. It was first introduced in the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, and has since been used in other models such as the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and the Hennessey Venom GT.
Here are some specifications of the LS7 engine:
- Displacement: 7.0 liters (427 cubic inches)
- Horsepower: 505 hp @ 6,300 rpm
- Torque: 470 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
- Compression ratio: 11.0:1
- Fuel delivery: Sequential fuel injection
- Cylinder block material: Aluminum
- Cylinder head material: Aluminum
- Valvetrain: Overhead valve (OHV), two valves per cylinder
- Bore x stroke: 4.125 in x 4.00 in
- Redline: 7,100 rpm
The LS7 engine is known for its high performance and reliability, making it a popular choice for enthusiasts and racing applications. It features a dry-sump oiling system, which helps prevent oil starvation during high-speed cornering and other high-performance driving situations.
