The idea of a four-cylinder LS engine seems lucrative. The concept, however, isn't too far away, thanks to BluePrint Engines.

Normally, when you hear LS engines, you’d expect an eight-cylinder item. However, have you ever wondered what a four-cylinder LS would look like? Well, the concept isn’t too far away, as BluePrint Engines has already made one.

This BluePrint LS four-pot is definitely not for eco-driving. Initial stats are impressive, with over 300 horsepower and roughly 500 lb-ft of torque. Although Chevrolet has nothing to do with this, the idea of having an LS-branded four-cylinder sounds awesome. And from the looks of things, this motor could end up in production as it garnered quite a positive response at the recent PRI (Performance Racing Industry) show.

BluePrint's Director of Marketing, John Chrise told Motor Trend, "We were there to show off some new racing V8s, and weren't exactly thrilled they wanted us to take this new four-cylinder from our R&D Department since we didn't think PRI was the place to debut something like that. We were wrong! Turns out that the 3.6-liter "LS" was a major hit at the show, and we constantly had people coming by the booth asking about it!"

Interest was overwhelming, with swap ideas ranging from Chevy S10 trucks to pontoon boats to early Jeeps. We’ll take a closer look at the motor and discuss how this four-pot "LS" stacks up against other high-output small-displacement engines.

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Truth be told, this is not an official “LS” motor. It shares an LS3-port head with BluePrint’s tried-and-tested heavy-duty block. The engine block has external dimensions similar to a 3.0L GM engine. John Chrise explained that this combination is from the brand’s industrial division, Origin Engines. He said, “Similar engines are widely used in everything from industrial wood-chippers to airport tugs, forestry equipment, mobile equipment, power generation, and other applications. The block is rugged and designed for high-torque continuous use in extreme environments. We then slightly altered the block to successfully mate with our Blueprint Engines LS head."

The 3.6L crate engine runs a 4.125-inch bore and 4.05-inch stroke, with a high-capacity water pump, 351 Windsor main bearings, SBC rod bearing, and SBC cam bearings. This half-LS, if configured properly, could produce nearly 340 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. This four-banger is particularly interesting as Inline-four engines normally displace somewhere in the ballpark of 2.0L. Having the extra headroom should mean reliable power, with the possibility of unlocking even more, should you want to.

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Since the days of combustion engines are numbered, it’s imperative we embrace what’s remaining in the gas-powered realm. Carmakers have been burdened with emission targets, and regulatory agencies are wasting no time and making the norms even tighter. Rather ironically, however, amidst all this engine scrutiny, we are witnessing 10.4L mammoths, albeit track-only, being introduced.

The idea of a four-cylinder LS engine seems feasible given the current situation. It significantly cuts down on emissions without sacrificing a whole lot of power. However, you do lose a bit of character and, more importantly, the V8 thump.

There were times when four-pot engines were loathed for their lackluster character and appalling performance. While the American market only ever entertained the idea either for fuel economy or for meeting emissions targets, Europeans, on the other hand, were exploring its full potential. From Mercedes-Benz to BMW, there are a great many four-cylinder engines that are devised with performance in mind.

Derived from the 3.0L Hurricane twin-turbo I6 engine, Mopar’s HurriCrate Series engines deliver more horsepower, more torque, and fewer emissions than many naturally aspirated V8s. The Cat 1 HurriCrate engine gets cast aluminum pistons, runs 10.4:1 compression and has twin turbochargers delivering up to 22 psi of peak boost. All this translates to the crate engine producing an estimated 420 horsepower and 468 Ib-ft of torque. Dodge’s Cat 3 HurriCrate engine packs 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of two Garett turbos running 26 psi, forged aluminum pistons, and a 9.5:1 compression ratio.

Although not sold as a crate engine, the M139 2.0L turbocharged Inline-four is the most powerful of its kind. The engine comes in various states of tune, ranging from 382 horsepower to 469 horsepower in the latest C63 AMG hybrid. Merc’s M139 engine houses a forged steel crankshaft and forged aluminum pistons. The cylinder linings have little to no friction thanks to AMG’s Nanoslide cylinder coating offering a mirror-like finish. The engine uses both Direct and Port fuel injection for achieving the higher output and is handbuilt in Affalterbach, Germany, just like all flagship AMG engines.

Although downsizing may help internal combustion engines live a few more years, it won’t be long before we bid an emotional goodbye to these fuel-chugging feats of engineering.

Sources: BluePrint Engines, Motor Trend

Cars have had a profound impact on Kiran ever since he was a toddler. Much like an incurable tumor, this passion of his grew as he grew older. So much that he graduated with a bachelor's degree in automotive engineering and has since devoted himself to penning down on all things motoring.