Ava Helps Jason Save Josslyn, And A Romance Blossoms. General Hospital Spoilers

Czinger 21C VMax: The Hypercar That Rewrites the Rulebook For years, the automotive world has fixated on the cutting edge, chasing the elusive intersection of performance and technology. But every so often, a car emerges that isn’t just at the forefront; it’s in a different zip code. Enter the Czinger 21C VMax. This isn’t just another hypercar; it’s a declaration of war against inertia, built with technology so advanced it feels like science fiction. After days behind the wheel, one thing became abundantly clear: the Czinger is a masterpiece of engineering madness, redefined for the 21st century. The Dawn of Divergent: When AI Meets Aerospace To understand the Czinger, you must first understand Divergent Technologies, the parent company that serves as the innovation engine behind this otherworldly machine. Before setting foot in their Southern California headquarters, I knew I was entering a space unlike any other. Factory visits for MotorTrend usually involve rows of robotic welders and stamping presses, but with Divergent, the experience is more akin to a clandestine aerospace lab than a traditional auto factory. My entry required a U.S. passport—not for security from the outside, but from the cutting-edge internal defense contractors that Divergent supplies. Lukas Czinger, the dynamic CEO of both companies, personally guided me through the facility. What unfolded was a vision of the future. We witnessed the heart of their innovation: 3D printing with aerospace-grade aluminum. Watching lasers atomize metal into parts that mimicked the delicate structure of bird bones was mesmerizing. This isn’t standard 3D printing; it’s a precision engineering marvel that allows for the creation of components so light and rigid, they defy conventional physics. Lukas explained the philosophy behind their design: “Pareto optimal.” In simpler terms, they have reached the point where adding or removing a single gram becomes detrimental to the overall performance. For example, the engineers design remote reservoir mounts not based on aesthetics, but on pure physics. The software analyzes the space, the forces, and the required strength, then generates hundreds of thousands of structural iterations. It’s evolution accelerated, a digital Darwinism where the strongest, lightest design survives. Beyond military applications, Divergent’s technology is adopted by industry giants. Aston Martin (DBR22), Bugatti (Tourbillon), and McLaren (W1) have all integrated Divergent’s 3D-printed components. One must also suspect the Ferrari F80’s control arms carry a secret Divergent lineage. Engineering Extremes: The 21C and its VMax Counterpart Czinger produces two versions of this technological marvel: the high-downforce track monster, Czinger 21C, and the ultra-sleek, wingless 21C VMax. While the latter is technically the 21C VMax, the designation “21C” is conspicuously absent from the bodywork. For the inaugural Velocity Tour—a 500-mile road rally through the picturesque wine country of Central and Northern California—I was assigned the silver VMax. The cabin experience is less of a cockpit and more of a fighter jet canopy. Czinger explicitly markets it as such, and the resemblance is uncanny. Having experienced a ride in an Extra 330LT stunt plane, I can attest to the similarity. Imagine being enveloped in glass, with the outside world just inches from your head. The visibility is astonishing, though the process of entering and exiting is an engineering marvel in itself. You sit with your legs extended on the massive sill, pull your knees to your chest, pivot on your buttocks, and tuck your feet into the footwell. Your head then slides under the roofline. It’s awkward, unconventional, and utterly spectacular. One of the keys to the VMax’s unique form factor is its hybrid powertrain. The enormous sills are packed with batteries, each housing 2.2 kWh of power for a total of 4.4 kWh. This isn’t a plug-in hybrid; the batteries are recharged by the engine. The electric motors at the front axle deliver a staggering 500 horsepower to the wheels. Complementing this electric force is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-8, designed in-house by Czinger. On California’s 91-octane premium fuel, it churns out 750 horsepower. Step up to 100-octane race fuel, and that figure climbs to 850 hp. The small but mighty engine also supports ethanol, promising even greater output, though those figures remain under wraps. Power flows to the rear wheels through an Xtrac single-clutch automated semi-sequential gearbox. At first glance, this mirrors the Xtrac unit found in the Pagani Utopia. However, Czinger elevates this design by 3D-printing the transmission case and integrating small 48-volt electric motors to facilitate lightning-fast shifts at low speeds. This technological feat eliminates the characteristic \”drunken surge\” that plagues most automated single-clutch transmissions in urban settings. I can attest, navigating gas stations, restaurants, and parking lots felt nearly normal. Czinger has achieved the impossible: making a hypercar civilized. The Track Test: A Rollercoaster of Speed As is customary with many ultra-exotic machines, Czinger assigned a professional driver, Evan Jacobs, to ride alongside me during the initial leg of the rally. This ensures that a six-figure machine doesn’t end up in a ditch. Thankfully, later that evening, Jacobs assured the Czinger team that I was no threat and they allowed me to drive solo for the remainder of the tour. We stopped at Laguna Seca for some warm-up laps. However, even non-Czinger employees are restricted to high-speed parade laps; track days are exclusively reserved for company personnel. I immediately scrambled into the bizarre rear seat. Let me be clear: if you have large calves or feet, the rear seat is not for you. My XXL calves were literally wedged between the carbon fiber tub and seat, and my feet struggled to find purchase. However, the visibility is unmatched. From that vantage point, looking through the side glass felt like being in a fighter jet—a novel experience even for a veteran like myself who has experienced over 1,000 track days from the front seat. Jacobs and I convinced the Skip Barber Racing School staff to let him take the VMax for a couple of \”6/10ths\” hot laps. The most visceral high-speed ride I’ve ever experienced was in an Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH race car, where I could literally feel the blood pooling in my extremities under the stress of braking. The Czinger VMax is now a close second. Even at this subdued pace and without the aggressive rear wing, it was easy to understand how the 21C pulled off the California Gold Rush. The Gold Rush wasn’t just a marketing stunt; it was a testament to the 21C’s capabilities. In five days, the car set five production-car track records at Thunder Hill, Sonoma Raceway, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs, and The Thermal Club. Czinger later returned to Laguna Seca, not only beating its own record but reclaiming the throne from a Koenigsegg Jesko Sadair’s Spear. The resulting lap time was a ridiculous 1 minute, 22.30 seconds—faster than the fastest MotoAmerica Superbike lap ever recorded at Laguna. Czinger claims a vehicle weight of around 3,600 pounds. This is astonishing for a hybrid with 1,250 horsepower. For context, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano—the highest-performance version of a three-motor twin-turbo V8 PHEV, producing only 986 hp—weighs 3,839 pounds. The new Lamborghini Temerario, another three-motor V8 hybrid generating less power, clocks in at a staggering 4,185 pounds. If Czinger’s weight claims are accurate, they have outgunned two Italian legends with a car that is lighter and more powerful. Considering Los Angeles isn’t exactly Modena in terms of supercar engineering heritage, this feat is nothing short of miraculous. Life on the Road: Normalizing the Abnormal The Velocity Tour route primarily consisted of actual back roads: tight, winding, and often poorly maintained asphalt—not the pristine tarmac of a manufacturer’s dream trip. There was also a lot of following the pack, navigating to lunch stops, and keeping pace with the camera car. At the time, I was somewhat disappointed, but in retrospect, I gained a perspective that most owners will likely experience: living with the Czinger. To my surprise, the VMax behaves much like any other hyper-exotic. Remove everything from your pockets, as the seats are tight. Drink your water before getting in, as there are no cup holders. Brace yourself for constant attention: males between 16 and 24 will inevitably stare, follow, wave, and rev their engines, likely shouting friendly obscenities. The Czinger rides significantly better than I anticipated, and the team deserves applause for avoiding excessive stiffness. The air conditioning works flawlessly. My only significant complaint about the \”normal driving\” experience is cabin noise. This isn’t the glorious symphony of the V-8, but rather a complete lack of sound deadening. While acceptable for a pure track car, it’s an oversight on a road car like the VMax. After hours inside, the incessant buzz becomes grating. Yes, weight