| Divergent Blade | |
| Manufacturer: | Divergent Technologies |
| Production: | TBA |
| Assembly: | Gardena, California |
| Designer: | Kevin Czinger |
| Class: | Sports car (S) |
| Body Style: | 2-door coupe |
| Layout: | MR layout |
| Engine: | 2.4 L 4B11T turbocharged I4 (Evo-derived, AMS-modified) |
| Powerout: | 720abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Transmission: | 7-speed Hewland sequential |
| Weight: | 630abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
The Divergent Blade is a two-door sports car prototype manufactured by Divergent Technologies, and designed by Kevin Czinger. The Blade is the first automobile to use 3D printing to form the body and chassis.
The Blade ended up being the backbone of the eventual production car dubbed the Czinger 21C.
The use of 3D construction further reduces the expense of building factories and pollution from them, with a more compact and cheaper process. This also can lower capital investment and production costs.[1]
The car contains a 2.4-liter 4B11T turbocharged inline-four derived from the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. The engine has been modified by American tuning house AMS, which meant bore and stroke was increased by 400cc, increasing the liters to 2.4. The modifications have increased to 7200NaN0. The horsepower and weight create a power-to-weight ratio of 1142.80NaN0 per ton. NaN0NaN0 is a reported 2.2 seconds.[2]
The car uses a 3D printed aluminum alloy material for the chassis and body. For the chassis, 3D printed structural joints (in which Divergent calls NODES) are used to construct the basis of the interior, which is then completed by metal parts made by computer algorithm. Because of the use of a 3D printed aluminum material, the overall weight is drastically reduced, sitting at 6300NaN0. The chassis weighs 460NaN0.[3] The car's design is bobsled-like, allowing for better weight distribution. The remaining areas would be filled by aerodynamic features and safety parts.
The 3D construction makes the car de-materialized, making the car greener (less resource use and pollution made by manufacturing), lighter (up to 90% lighter than traditional vehicles with more strength and durability), safer (a strong and light car causes less wear and fewer fatalities), and made local (cars built by smaller local groups lowers costs, time, and increase quality).[4]