Czinger’s 21C: A New Era in Performance Automotive Engineering
This summer, the automotive world has been abuzz with the remarkable achievements of a newcomer in the performance car scene: Czinger. Based in Los Angeles, this innovative company has made headlines with its groundbreaking hypercar, the 21C, which has set multiple speed records across prestigious tracks. On August 26, the 21C claimed the title for the fastest production car lap at California’s Laguna Seca, following a record-setting performance at Austin’s F1 circuit just a month earlier. Additionally, it shattered the production car hillclimb record at the renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. “We call it ‘the summer of records,’” says Lukas Czinger, the company’s co-founder and COO, reflecting on the excitement of these achievements.
Beyond Speed: A Vision for Sustainable Manufacturing
While the record-breaking performances of the 21C are impressive, the ambitions of Lukas and his father, Kevin Czinger, extend far beyond just creating fast cars. The 21C serves as a showcase for the capabilities of their parent company, Divergent, which has developed an end-to-end design and manufacturing platform that integrates cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced material science, and 3D printing. This innovative approach allows Czinger to streamline vehicle design, minimizing material usage while maximizing performance.
A New Manufacturing Paradigm
Divergent’s strategy is already yielding results. This summer, the company announced partnerships with luxury automotive giants McLaren and Bugatti, expanding its reach in the high-end market. However, the Czingers envision a future where their manufacturing platform can “trickle down” to mass-market vehicles and even industries like aerospace. “If we do our job right,” Lukas Czinger asserts, “it will be the biggest manufacturing system in the world in 10 years.”
The Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS)
At the heart of Czinger’s innovation is the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS), a sophisticated software and hardware solution that was instrumental in the design and production of the 21C. DAPS enables the creation of lighter, more aerodynamic vehicles, which not only aids in breaking speed records but also offers significant cost-saving opportunities for mass-market automakers. “If you save 20 to 30% of a vehicle’s chassis mass, if you multiply that by hundreds of millions of cars,” Lukas explains, “that is a massive impact.”
Efficiency Through AI and 3D Printing
The efficiencies gained through DAPS are evident at various stages of production. The system leverages AI to refine human designs, identifying potential material savings. This meticulous approach allowed the team to create the 21C’s chassis and suspension with “perfect efficiency,” meaning that every gram of material is essential for performance. Furthermore, DAPS employs 3D printing technology, which builds components layer by layer, drastically reducing waste compared to traditional machining methods that often leave behind significant scrap material.
Flexibility in Production
One of the standout features of DAPS is its product-independent manufacturing capability. Traditional car factories are often limited to producing a handful of models due to the specificity of their equipment. In contrast, the 3D printing process used for the 21C allows a single factory to produce a wide array of products—potentially “200, 300, a thousand” different designs, according to Lukas. This flexibility opens the door for new players in the automotive market to collaborate with Divergent, enabling them to produce limited runs of innovative designs without the need for substantial investment in manufacturing infrastructure.
The Future of Automotive Production
As the automotive industry evolves, Divergent aims to shift the paradigm of large-scale manufacturing. The company envisions a model where businesses focus on design while outsourcing production to its adaptable factories, similar to how many companies now rely on cloud services for computing needs. “Just like with the cloud,” Lukas notes, “you’ll see dozens of Divergent facilities worldwide producing for all industries.”
Exclusivity and Future Plans
Currently, the technology and performance of the 21C are reserved for those willing to invest significantly, with each vehicle starting at $2 million. Czinger plans to complete a limited run of just 80 units by the first half of 2026. As the summer of records comes to a close, the company faces the challenge of translating its track success into market traction. However, the unique dynamic between Kevin and Lukas Czinger gives them confidence. “There’s a level of politics when you’re building a large business,” Lukas explains. “We don’t have any of that.”
In a world where speed and sustainability are increasingly intertwined, Czinger’s 21C and the innovative manufacturing processes behind it may just be the beginning of a new chapter in automotive history.
