Last March, right before the temporary collapse of society and cancellation of every major auto show, Los Angeles-based Czinger unveiled a first look at its 21C hypercar.
The hybrid vehicle touted a unique production process that promised to revolutionize automotive performance.
Fast forward 15 months, and we now have the final production specs for the 21C.
Czinger feels that their home-grown human-AI production system will provide a unique, more dynamic approach to optimizing vehicle performance. The company is also utilizing additive manufacturing to create a number of parts and components, which will be key in keeping vehicle weight down — and therefore improving speed and handling.
The combination of these two technologies aims to ensure the use of exact engineering specifications that go beyond just measurements to include weight and performance-based attributes that will be used to build the cars, and constantly improve upon production processes. Each part created with AM will even be finished by hand.
Czinger has taken the same care in developing their own all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain, and a design that seems to combine an Indy car with a fighter jet.
This includes a mid-engine design housing a 2.88-liter flat crank, twin-turbo V8 that Czinger describes as the most power-dense production-grade internal combustion engine in the world. It’s capable of producing over 1,200 horsepower, along with an upgrade that can boost that total to over 1,350 horsepower.
In addition to the V8, the unique powertrain also includes a separate 800-volt electric drive system tied to regenerative braking that contributes to the 21C’s ability to reach speeds of over 280 mph, and hit a zero to 60 time of 1.9 seconds.
Additionally, high-output electric motors power each of the front wheels to optimize handling.
The vehicle can also run on multiple low-emission fuels, including carbon-recycled methanol. It is being designed, built and manufactured in Los Angeles.
For those who are interested, dealer information is available on the company’s website, and deliveries start in early 2023. Czinger only plans on making 80 cars annually, at a cost of $2 million each.