The Petrolhead Nook – The 3D printed Czinger 21C hybrid hypercar

Czinger Automobiles is a brand new participant on the grand stage of the hypercar, presenting a 1,200hp+ hybrid-powered automobile with a number of insane tips up its sleeve. It’s not to be mistaken with Singer, the equally sounding however vastly totally different Porsche modifiers. No, Czinger Automobiles is the brainchild of Kevin and Lukas Czinger, a father-and-son duo from the US. The concept is to revolutionize the idea of automobile manufacturing and the best way we understand vehicles, and the 21C is an enormous step ahead to attaining that very purpose. However simply how particular is it? We’re discovering out in at this time’s episode of the Petrolhead Nook.

Nicely, to not beat concerning the bush, the Czinger 21C could be very particular. And for a variety of causes. Czinger claims the automobile is just not constructed to demolish lap data or something, though it lately broke the file at Laguna Seca. No, the automobile is meant to showcase the subsequent step in automobile manufacturing expertise and push it ahead into new and unknown territory. It’s steadily put in the identical body because the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy airplane, which was a serious leap in aviation expertise inbuilt file time in an period the place laptop expertise wasn’t as superior as it’s at this time. That supersonic airplane additionally serves as inspiration for the Czinger 21C, however we’ll get to that in a bit.

DAPS

Czinger Automobiles is a subsidiary of Divergent Microfactories, owned and run by Kevin and Lukas Czinger. This Divergent Microfactories firm is definitely the place the Czinger 21C’s story begins when in 2016 the Divergent Blade was introduced. This already gave a glimpse into what would turn out to be the 21C. The entire idea of each the Blade and the 21C revolves round growing and making use of revolutionary 3D printing expertise.

The Divergent Adaptive Manufacturing System, shortened to DAPS, is Divergent’s and Czinger’s technique to push the automobile manufacturing expertise in the direction of the long run. The system incorporates round 450 patents, showcasing the corporate’s attempt to maneuver ahead. It centres round a synthetic intelligence-driven design platform with creates an optimized structural design for elements in a 3D printable format. It’s a bit geeky to uncover the whole expertise, however what it means is that components might be optimized primarily based on what they should do nearer than ever. Advanced calculations might be made to create the very best design, materials, rigidity, weight, mounting factors and so forth. It’s not solely new, however Czinger goes additional than another automobile producer at this second does.

Taking a look at a few of the elements on the Czinger 21C (see the video beneath), and understanding the design is second to its perform, it amazes me how natural and fluid a few of them look. Components just like the cradle that holds the steering wheel, or suspension elements, the honeycomb warmth shields for the exhaust system. All of it appears surreal on a automobile. As Motortrend.com states, primarily based on quotes from Kevin Czinger, it’s not an intentional design technique however a results of the software program understanding tips on how to get essentially the most out of the least quantity of fabric. Fascinating stuff actually!

What else issues is that this technique of producing reduces price and time for tooling, reduces lead occasions to design and check new elements, eliminates conventional welding the place potential, and it may be virtually solely automated. Prime Gear has defined extra on this whole course of, and has pushed a prototype of the 21C;

SR-71 Blackbird inspiration

All this superior AI expertise is okay, however a automobile must look good, and particularly super- and hypercars. It must appear like it’s going 200 miles per hour standing nonetheless, it has to have quite a lot of presence, so a reasonably face is important.

The Czinger 21C not solely carries unconventional expertise underneath its carbon-fibre exterior, however the exterior itself can be a bit unconventional as properly. Kevin Czinger is a big fan of the SR-71 Blackbird program from the Seventies, which resulted in one of many all-time biggest aeroplanes ever made. And each the plane, and the automobile, the 2 share some similarities in design.

The obvious one is the central cockpit, which aligns the driving force, passenger, engine and gearbox in the course of the automobile. This improves weight distributions and thus enhances efficiency in a number of methods. It additionally causes a number of challenges although, as you want further size within the chassis. The result’s a cover that begins very near the entrance of the automobile and stretches to the engine bay. This may be greatest seen in pictures from the facet of the automobile. From the entrance although, you possibly can see how slender the virtually full glass lined cover actually is.

Bumper to bumper, the Czinger 21C appears sharp, targeted, and just about able to blast down any monitor. There are all types of aerodynamic trickery happening, with large wings, splitters, air-intakes and an enormous rear spoiler and diffuser. However how does it again up this aggressive look? Nicely, fairly darn good!

The Numbers Sport

I do know most Petrolheads will have a look at numbers to guage a automobile, and when you’ve watched the clip above you’ve heard all of them. How briskly does it speed up, what’s the highest velocity, how a lot downforce does it generate, how briskly can it lap a sure monitor, what number of shall be constructed, and at what price. And most significantly maybe; what engine does it have?

Nicely, an enormous one for that matter, backed up with a System 1 derived hybrid system. The Czinger 21C is powered by an in-house developed 2.9-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 950bhp. It’s made to run on gas varieties with totally different octane ranges, so relying on what you’re operating the output can range slightly. The hybrid system can ship a further 100bhp to the rear wheels, whereas it additionally drives two electrical motors within the entrance wheels. The mixed output for the Czinger 21C is a monumental 1,233bhp.

Mix that with a weight of 1,240 kilos and also you get some blistering efficiency figures. Czinger claims the 21C will go from a standstill to 62mph (100kph) in lower than two seconds, though that has not been verified for the time being. The theoretical prime velocity is 281mph (simply over 450kph), which places it in Bugatti/Koenigsegg/SSC territory. And it’s not simply quick in a straight line, as a track-prepped model of the Czinger 21C has lapped the Laguna Seca circuit in 1.25:44, a whopping 2 seconds sooner than the McLaren Senna that beforehand held the lap file. Right here’s a clip of how the Czinger group has damaged the file;

The mix of low weight, excessive output, hybrid drive and immense downforce (on par with GT3 racing vehicles, relying on the set-up) lead to a mind-blowing piece of futuristic engineering. And the ultimate vital numbers regarding the 21C; solely 80 shall be constructed at a base value of USD 2 million apiece, with deliveries deliberate for 2023. So sure, the Czinger 21C is a real hypercar in each sense of the phrase.

For extra data, please go to Czinger.com