The intended application is somewhat of a mystery, but the performance from the engine that will provide the power is quite conspicuous. Cranking out well over 1,150 horsepower and providing a 1,000-plus lb-ft torque from 4,000 to 6,000 rpm is the latest edition of the twin-turbo 427 LSX Hot Rod series from Nelson Racing Engines (NRE).

With a price tag in the neighborhood of $45,000, the engine will be installed in a production mid-engine vehicle as a private-label project, so one of the priorities was streetable manners to match the high horsepower. The 1,154 horsepower recording came at under a manageable 14 pounds of boost, and a very respectable 842 horsepower was recorded with 6.6 pounds of boost. Expectations of 1,700 horsepower on race gas are feasible.

“It’s just a nice street package,” says Larry Lewis of NRE.

The intricately black-wrinkle-detailed LSX engine features NRE billet tunnel-ram Alien intake that features two injectors per cylinder and a super-clean design that hides the sensors and fuel rails.

“We designed the intake so it can face either direction,” adds Lewis, noting many of these engines have been built for sand rails and mid-engine applications. “The billet components welded together and have special ribbing inside to prevent cracking under high boost loads.”

The engine also boasts NRE’s exclusive 72mm mirror-image turbos that are positioned tight to the engine on top of custom stainless-steel headers. Controlling the boost is a pair of TiAL wastegates and blowoff valves.

“The symmetrical turbos provide a nicer package when the car’s done,” says Lewis. “Everything’s concentric and you have the same flow on each side.”

The engine is based on a GM LSX block with 9.7-inch deck height and filled with a 4.250-inch-stroke Callies steel crank, Oliver billet rods, JE pistons, Sealed Power rings, Clevite bearings and modified LS6 dry-sump oiling. The cam is a custom-ground solid roller that activates valves in the All Pro 215 heads that are CNC ported by West Coast Racing Cylinder Heads. Other engine goodies include Cometic gaskets, ARP hardware, Electromotive ECU and Aeromotive fuel pump.