Czinger 21C VMax: Pushing Hypercar Limits to the Extreme
Czinger’s groundbreaking hypercar embodies sheer lunacy and the future of automotive innovation, leaving testers in absolute awe.
The Innovation Factory
For years, the automotive world has been buzzing about Czinger, the visionary automotive startup based in Southern California. My own chance to finally experience one of their remarkable machines came through a three-day road rally featuring the Czinger 21C VMax. While there is undoubtedly a thrilling track story to tell—the kind that every car enthusiast eagerly anticipates—I was particularly interested in what a center-steer, tandem two-seater hypercar feels like during a 500-mile journey. It’s about moving beyond pure performance metrics and exploring what it means to live with this futuristic creation.
A Glimpse into the Future
Stepping inside Czinger’s facilities felt less like entering a traditional car factory and more like being transported to the future. I actually had to show my U.S. passport to gain entry, a testament to how proprietary and secretive the operation is. The parent company, Divergent Technologies, leverages iterative artificial intelligence and massive 3D printers to design and produce components that are both incredibly lightweight and incredibly strong. This unique methodology is why identification is required, as Divergent supplies critical parts to the Department of Defense.
During my tour, guided by CEO Lukas Czinger, I got a privileged look inside one of the giant 3D printers. Watching dozens of lasers fuse powdered aluminum into what looked like intricate bird bones was mind-blowing. This isn’t just a manufacturing process; it’s a glimpse into the evolution of automotive engineering. Lukas explained that the technology aims to reach the Pareto optimal—a point where even a single gram added or subtracted degrades performance. For example, if an engineer needs a component to hold a suspension reservoir and withstand specific forces, the software iterates through hundreds of thousands of designs until it finds the strongest, lightest configuration.
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Czinger 21C VMax: Pushing Hypercar Limits to the Extreme
Czinger’s groundbreaking hypercar embodies sheer lunacy and the future of automotive innovation, leaving testers in absolute awe.
The Innovation Factory
For years, the automotive world has been buzzing about Czinger, the visionary automotive startup based in Southern California. My own chance to finally experience one of their remarkable machines came through a three-day road rally featuring the Czinger 21C VMax. While there is undoubtedly a thrilling track story to tell—the kind that every car enthusiast eagerly anticipates—I was particularly interested in what a center-steer, tandem two-seater hypercar feels like during a 500-mile journey. It’s about moving beyond pure performance metrics and exploring what it means to live with this futuristic creation.
A Glimpse into the Future
Stepping inside Czinger’s facilities felt less like entering a traditional car factory and more like being transported to the future. I actually had to show my U.S. passport to gain entry, a testament to how proprietary and secretive the operation is. The parent company, Divergent Technologies, leverages iterative artificial intelligence and massive 3D printers to design and produce components that are both incredibly lightweight and incredibly strong. This unique methodology is why identification is required, as Divergent supplies critical parts to the Department of Defense.
During my tour, guided by CEO Lukas Czinger, I got a privileged look inside one of the giant 3D printers. Watching dozens of lasers fuse powdered aluminum into what looked like intricate bird bones was mind-blowing. This isn’t just a manufacturing process; it’s a glimpse into the evolution of automotive engineering. Lukas explained that the technology aims to reach the Pareto optimal—a point where even a single gram added or subtracted degrades performance. For example, if an engineer needs a component to hold a suspension reservoir and withstand specific forces, the software iterates through hundreds of thousands of designs until it finds the strongest, lightest configuration.
Beyond the DOD, nine automotive OEMs utilize Divergent’s additive manufacturing technology. While only Aston Martin (DBR22), Bugatti (Tourbillon), and McLaren (W1) publicly confirm using their parts, the control arms on the Ferrari F80 certainly look suspicious.
Engineering the Ultimate Driving Machine
Czinger produces two highly specialized versions of what is essentially the same platform. The Czinger 21C is the high-downforce track monster, named to honor the 21st century, while the Czinger 21C VMax features a sleek, wingless design with an extended tail. For the inaugural Velocity Tour—a 500-mile rally through California’s renowned wine country—I had the privilege of piloting the silver VMax.
Cockpit Design
I use the word “piloting” intentionally, as the cabin feels more like a jet fighter’s cockpit than a typical vehicle’s greenhouse. Czinger claims the similarity to a fighter jet is deliberate, and based on my experience in an Extra 330LT stunt plane, the feeling is remarkably similar. With glass positioned less than a foot from both sides of your head, the visibility is exceptional.
However, the process of getting in and out of the car is undeniably challenging. You must sit with your legs extending out onto the massive sill, pull your knees up high, rotate your body, and tuck your feet into the footwell, all while maneuvering your head under the roof.
One reason the sills are so substantial is that they house the batteries for the hybrid hypercar. Each sill contains 2.2 kWh of battery power, totaling 4.4 kWh. The 21C VMax is not a plug-in hybrid; instead, a motor powered by the mid-mounted V8 engine maintains the battery charge. These batteries deliver 500 horsepower to the front axle, which features a dedicated motor per wheel.
The combustion engine is a proprietary 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 developed by Czinger. It produces 750 hp on standard 91-octane California premium fuel. Pour in 100-octane race fuel, and the horsepower increases to 850 hp. The engine is also capable of running on ethanol, potentially producing even more power, though Czinger has not yet released these figures.
The Driving Experience
The VMax sends its power to the rear wheels via an Xtrac single-clutch automated semi-sequential gearbox. This is similar to the Xtrac seven-speed transmission used in the Pagani Utopia, but Czinger has taken it to a new level. They not only 3D print the transmission case but also use small 48-volt electric motors to execute shifts more rapidly at lower speeds. This innovation eliminates the surging or drunken feeling common in other automated single-clutch gearboxes. The twin-barrel actuators work flawlessly, as I was grateful to discover when navigating gas stations, restaurants, and hotel parking lots.
The Instructor in the Backseat
A peculiar element of the drive was having a professional driver, Evan Jacobs, sitting behind me for the entire first day. As is common practice with certain high-end hypercars like Bugatti and Pagani, Czinger placed a pro driver in the car to ensure safety. Thankfully, later that evening, Jacobs assured the Czinger team that I was not a threat to the car and was allowed to drive solo for the rest of the rally.
We stopped at Laguna Seca for some parade laps, but for security reasons, non-Czinger employees are not permitted to drive the VMax on racetracks, even at the extremely slow pace set for the rally participants.
Performance and Track Domination
Even if you can’t drive, riding shotgun in such a unique vehicle is a thrill. I scrambled into the bizarre rear seat, and the first thing to note is that if you have large calves or feet, the back-seat experience is not ideal. My calves were pressed between the carbon-fiber tub and the seat, and my feet struggled to fit comfortably. However, the visibility through the side glass is absolutely incredible. It truly reminded me of being in a stunt plane, offering a novel perspective on track driving that I’ve experienced countless times before.
This unique viewpoint was especially impactful when Jacobs and I persuaded the Skip Barber Racing School staff (whose track day we were joining) to allow him to take the VMax for a couple of “6/10ths” hot laps. The most impressive hot lap I’ve ever experienced was riding shotgun in an Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH race car, where I could feel the blood pooling in my extremities during hard braking. The Czinger 21C VMax now holds second place on my list, and remember, Jacobs was not driving at full throttle.
Even at less than racing speeds and without the aerodynamic wing of the standard 21C, it was easy to understand how the Czinger 21C achieved what the brand calls the California Gold Rush. The car set five production car track records—at Thunder Hill, Sonoma Raceway, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs, and the Thermal Club—in just five days, driving between each track. Czinger later returned to Laguna Seca not only to beat its own record but to reclaim the throne from the Koenigsegg Jesko Sadair’s Spear, a track-special monster. That lap time, a mind-bending 1 minute and 22.30 seconds, is faster than the fastest MotoAmerica Superbike lap ever recorded at Laguna, which stands at 1:22.56.
Czinger claims a vehicle weight of approximately 3,600 pounds, which is quite light for a 1,250-hp hybrid. For context, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Asseto Fiorano—the highest-performance version of a three-motor, twin-turbo V8 PHEV producing 986 hp—weighs 3,839 pounds. The new Lamborghini Temerario, another hybrid with a twin-turbo V8 engine producing less power, exceeds two tons, tipping the scales at 4,185 pounds.
The Road Journey
The chosen route for the rally comprised mostly tight, winding, and poorly maintained roads. This isn’t the ideal asphalt for a hypercar dream trip. Plus, there was a lot of following the pack, navigating to lunch stops, and hanging with the camera car. While I might have felt slightly disappointed at the time, in retrospect, I experienced what most Czinger owners will face during their ownership journey.
Everyday Hypercar Life
To my surprise, the VMax behaved much like any other hyper-exotic car. You must empty your pockets before entering as the seats are tight. Drink your water before you get in as there are no cup holders. And prepare for constant attention—most people, especially males between 16 and 24, will stare, follow, wave, and rev their engines, likely shouting friendly obscenities in your direction.
Regardless, the Czinger rides much better than I expected. The team deserves applause for not making it overly stiff, and the air conditioning works surprisingly well. The only real complaint I have about driving the VMax under normal conditions is how loud the cabin is. I’m not talking about the unique V8 sound, but rather a complete lack of sound deadening. This might be acceptable in a track-focused car like the standard 21C, but it’s an annoying oversight in a road car like the VMax.
This becomes especially apparent during long drives. I understand that weight is the enemy of performance, but how much does sound-deadening foam weigh? Perhaps 20 to 50