Czinger 21C Supercar – An Automotive Revolution
I recently attended the launch of a revolutionary hypercar built for the 21st century by a new company called Czinger.
In their own words: ‘Czinger represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering, innovation, automotive art and technology-based design.’
In 1916 Cadillac produced the type 53. This is considered to be the first car to use the same control layout as modern cars, with the gear lever and hand brake in the middle of the front two seats, a key started ignition, and three pedals for the clutch, brake and throttle in the familiar order.
In the 104 years since then, the motorcar has been improved and refined, but ultimately, is not that different from these early days. Steel body, drum brakes, leaf spring suspension and so on.
To this day, all of these features are still present on some current production cars. Some have part aluminium bodies, most have springs and shocks in place of leaf springs and most have disc brakes now, but not that different.
Suspension components are generally pressed steel, as are car bodies. Some are now aluminium and there are a tiny handful of cars with composite panels, usually bonded.
Cars are generally made on a production line, following the same old methods that have been used for many, many years. Talking to the Czinger team was like a breath of fresh air. I have spent many years in and around automotive manufacturing and have been waiting for something new.
Czinger represents a revolution in automotive technology. It’s the next step.
Czingers’ revolutionary production system integrates automated design and optimization software, patented additive manufacturing-driven processes, high accuracy automated assembly, and novel performance materials — the 21C is the first vehicle born of this revolutionary system.
What this means is that around 30% of the 21C has been 3D printed using a variety of materials. The shapes created are beautiful, organic structures, a symbiosis of automated design and nature, both borrowing from each other.
Czinger had an upper suspension arm as a sample. An exquisite, flowing, organic structure, strong and light, 3D printed in exotic alloys.
Due to the flexibility of the manufacturing process, the walls of the structure vary in thickness. In some areas they are thin and light, in others the walls are thicker and stronger.
This method is amazingly versatile and flexible.
At last, something new, exciting and innovative in the automotive manufacturing world.
Other parts or the car are more traditional with carbon fibre and aluminium extrusions for example.
Inspired by the SR-71 Blackbird, the 21C has a unique in-line driving position. The passenger sits behind the driver which reduces the frontal area of the car and gives the driver an enhanced feeling of freedom.
One of the key features of the 21C is the drivetrain. It incorporates an extremely light and compact, mid-mounted V8 engine sporting a pair of 73mm turbos. This engine revs to an amazing 11,000rpm. This engine car run on petrol or methanol race fuel which is actually a biofuel so green. This engine drives the rear wheels and also has a motor on the rear of the engine that generates electricity for the 2kWh lithium-titanate batteries housed in the sills. Lithium-titanate batteries are used because they have a faster charge/discharge rate than lithium-ion batteries.
These batteries, in turn, feed two electric motors at the front of the car, making the 21C a 4WD hybrid hypercar.
There are currently three models in the Czinger range: 21C, 21C lightweight and 21C lightweight track only.
They have almost identical performance figures apart from the 21C has a higher top speed, due to having less wing (which also means less downforce). Top speed on the 21C is 268 mph where the lightweight track only has a top speed of 236 mph. However, the lightweight and track-only cars produce 790kg + downforce @ 155 mph Vs 250kg + from the 21C.
21C has a curb weight 1250kg Vs the other two with their curb weight of 1218kg. These are all lighter than the current Ford Fiesta.
Combined hybrid power for the 21C is 1250hp. I’ll repeat that……the 21C weighs less than a ford Fiesta and produces 1250hp.
The Dodge Viper GTS recorded 0 to 100 mph back to 0 in 15 seconds. That’s a pretty fast car too. In the same 15 seconds, the Czinger 21C has recorded 0 to 186 mph back to 0. Simply outrageous.
The numbers are staggering. This car can perform an 8.1 second quarter mile @ 170 mph, 0-62 mph takes just 1.9 seconds and 62 mph to 0 takes only 100ft. Top speed for the 21C is 268 mph.
It’s hard to understand these figures so here’s a bit of perspective. The Bugatti Chiron has a 0 – 62 mph time of around 2.5 seconds and the Porsche 918 Spyder is 2.2 seconds. Both amazing cars, but the Czinger will show them a clean pair of heels.
This is just the first step for Czinger and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes them and us.
