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The Czinger 21C VMax: A 1,250-HP Technological Marvel Pushing the Boundaries of Performance For years, the automotive world has watched as Czinger, the ambitious Southern California startup, pushes the envelope with their 3D-printed, alien-tech hypercars. Their latest creation, the Czinger 21C VMax, represents a stunning fusion of cutting-edge technology and pure automotive madness. We recently had the opportunity to drive the 21C VMax on a three-day road rally, and what we experienced was nothing short of revolutionary. While there’s plenty of talk about track performance, the real story lies in understanding what this central-steer, tandem two-seater feels like when pushed to the absolute limits. The Factory of the Future: Where Science Meets Steel To understand the Czinger 21C VMax, you must first understand the parent company, Divergent Technologies. At first glance, stepping into their factory feels less like visiting a car manufacturer and more like entering a high-tech laboratory. The facility, which supplies parts to the Department of Defense, offers a glimpse into the future of automotive manufacturing. The highlight of the tour, led by young CEO Lukas Czinger, was witnessing the massive 3D printers at work, zapping powdered aluminum into intricate components that resemble the delicate structures of bird bones. It is a truly awe-inspiring sight, a testament to how technology is transforming vehicle engineering. Lukas explained that Divergent’s technology aims to achieve “Pareto optimality”—the point at which adding or removing a single gram becomes detrimental. Take the example of designing a remote reservoir for the car’s rear suspension. Using complex AI-driven software, the system iterates through hundreds of thousands of designs to find the absolute lightest and strongest structure capable of handling the required forces. This process is akin to evolution on fast-forward. Beyond military applications, nine automotive OEMs utilize Divergent’s 3D-printed parts. While Aston Martin, Bugatti, and McLaren are the most vocal participants, the control arms of the Ferrari F80 show tell-tale signs of the same revolutionary technology. Under the Carbon Fiber: The Anatomy of a Hybrid Hypercar Czinger produces two distinct versions of their groundbreaking vehicle: the high-downforce, track-focused 21C, and the VMax. The latter, named for its top-speed focus, features a long tail design without a rear wing. For the inaugural Velocity Tour, a 500-mile rally through California’s stunning wine country, I found myself behind the wheel of a silver VMax. The cabin design is a stark departure from conventional supercars, featuring a central-steer cockpit that feels more like a fighter jet canopy than a typical vehicle interior. According to Czinger, the experience is akin to piloting an Extra 330LT stunt plane. The visibility is exceptional, with glass inches from your head, but the process of entering and exiting the car is truly unique. You must sit with your legs facing out onto the massive sill, pull your knees up, pivot your body, and tuck your feet into the narrow footwell, all while carefully lowering your head under the roofline. The reason for the massive sills becomes apparent when you realize they are packed with batteries. The Czinger 21C VMax is a hybrid hypercar, with each sill housing a 2.2-kWh battery pack for a total of 4.4 kWh. Unlike traditional plug-in hybrids, the 21C VMax is self-charging, relying on the mid-mounted V8 engine to keep the batteries topped up. These batteries can deliver a staggering 500 horsepower to the front axle, which utilizes one motor per wheel. The heart of the Czinger 21C VMax is a Czinger-designed 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 750 horsepower on standard California 91-octane fuel. However, when fed 100-octane race fuel, the engine’s output surges to 850 horsepower. The engine is also capable of running on ethanol, which further boosts power—though Czinger has not yet released those figures, industry estimates predict a 10 percent increase. The gas engine powers the rear wheels through an Xtrac single-clutch automated semi-sequential gearbox. This is similar to the seven-speed Xtrac unit found in Pagani’s Utopia, but Czinger has taken the technology a step further. By 3D-printing the transmission case and integrating small 48-volt electric motors, they achieve virtually instantaneous shifts at lower speeds. This eliminates the jerky, lurching sensation common in other automated single-clutch transmissions. The twin-barrel actuators work as advertised, making low-speed maneuvers—like navigating gas stations, restaurants, and hotel parking lots—surprisingly smooth and easy. Track Time: Pushing the Limits of the Czinger 21C VMax For the initial stages of the Velocity Tour, Czinger implemented a standard industry practice: a professional driver sat behind the pilot to ensure safety. Evan Jacobs was tasked with riding shotgun, making sure I didn’t crash the $2.5 million machine. Thankfully, Jacobs later assured the Czinger team I was no threat and that I was cleared to drive solo for the remainder of the rally. We made a stop at Laguna Seca for some parade laps, but non-Czinger employees were unfortunately prohibited from driving the VMax on the track, even at the restricted rally pace. As I have learned the hard way, when you can’t drive, go for the ride. I scrambled into the bizarre rear seat and was immediately struck by how cramped the space felt for someone with large calves and feet. My XXL calves were literally wedged between the carbon-fiber tub and the seat, and my feet didn’t fit comfortably either. However, the visibility through the side glass was incredible, reminding me of a stunt plane and offering a novel way to experience a racetrack, which I have visited over a thousand times. Jacobs and I managed to convince the Skip Barber Racing School staff to let him 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 under the extreme braking forces. The Czinger 21C VMax is now a close second, and remember, Jacobs didn’t go full tilt. Even at less than the limit and without the massive downforce rear wing, it was easy to understand how the Czinger 21C achieved what the brand calls the California Gold Rush. The Gold Rush campaign saw the 21C set five production car track records across California in just five days, driving between each track. Later, Czinger returned to Laguna Seca to not only beat its own record but to reclaim the throne from a track-special Koenigsegg Jesko Sadair’s Spear. The lap time, a blistering 1 minute, 22.30 seconds, is even quicker than the fastest MotoAmerica Superbike lap ever recorded at Laguna. Czinger claims a vehicle weight of approximately 3,600 pounds, which is incredibly light for a 1,250-horsepower hybrid. To put that in perspective, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Asseto Fiorano—the highest-performance version of a three-motor twin-turbo V8 PHEV with only 986 horsepower—weighs 3,839 pounds. The new Lamborghini Temerario, another three-motor twin-turbo V8 (with less power, but the comparison holds), pushes past the two-ton mark at 4,185 pounds. Now is a good time to mention that the SF90 and Temerario are the two quickest gasoline-powered cars MotorTrend has ever tested (the Ferrari for 0–60 mph and the Lambo for the quarter mile). If Czinger’s weight claim proves accurate, the unorthodox California startup has managed to beat two Italian legends with its first production car. That alone is remarkable, but it’s especially noteworthy considering that while Southern California is known for many things, it isn’t exactly a hotbed of supercar manufacturing expertise. In other words, L.A. is not Modena. On the Road: A True Test of the Czinger 21C VMax The route chosen for the rally consisted primarily of true back roads. Tight, winding, and often poorly maintained asphalt—hardly the stuff of dream hypercar tours. Plus, I spent a lot of time following the pack, navigating to lunch stops, and sticking close to the camera car. At the time, I was somewhat disappointed, but in retrospect, what I experienced is exactly what most owners will encounter while living with a Czinger. To my surprise, the VMax was mostly like driving any other hyper-exotic. Take everything out of your pockets as the seats are tight, drink your water before you get in as there are no cup holders, and brace yourself for the fact that almost everyone else on the road, especially males between 16 and 24, will be staring, following, waving, and revving at you, all while (probably) shouting friendly obscenities. Regardless, the Czinger rides much better than I expected; the team deserves applause for not making it