When an Aston Martin promises "extreme performance," it's time to get out of the way. After weeks of teasing, the company is lifting the lid on the Aston Martin Vulcan; its new track-only V12 supercar. Set to make it debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show, it's based on Aston Martin's GT motorsport experience and will be limited to only 24 units.
According to Aston Martin, the limited-edition Vulcan gives the public a hint at what the next generation of of its cars will look like. Designed by a team under Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, the Vulcan boasts a carbon-fiber monocoque and body built for Aston Martin by Multimatic, and has some of the most aggressive styling the marque has ever put into production.
From the renderings released, the Vulcan will never be mistaken for a street-dwelling Aston Martin. The front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive track car has firmly scratched out the word "understatement" with its distinctly un-Aston Martin spoiler, low clearance, massive bonnet vents, bulging carbon-fiber diffusers, and the vestigial Aston Martin grille disappearing into the air intakes.
Under the bonnet is the naturally-aspirated, 7.0-liter V12 petrol engine cranking out an eye-watering 800-plus bhp, which was developed with Aston Martin Racing and feeds into the rear mid-mounted Xtrac six-speed sequential shift gearbox. The Vulcan also has an integral limited-slip differential, and a magnesium torque tube with a carbon-fiber propeller shaft. Add this all together and Aston Martin says that the Vulcan has a power-to-weight ratio superior to GTE cars in the FIA’s annual World Endurance Championship.
The company isn't saying anything about performance as yet; saving that for the Vulcan's track debut later this year.
In addition, the Vulcan has a pushrod suspension with anti-dive geometry, Multimatic’s Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) adjustable dampers, front and rear anti-roll bars, driver-adjustable anti-lock braking, and variable traction control. Its track pedigree is also obvious in the wide Michelin race-specification tires, and the carbon-ceramic racing disc brakes with Brembo racing calipers.
Part of the Vulcan package is the option of taking an intensive track driver training course using high-performance cars, such as the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, One-77, and the Vantage GT4 under the supervision of race drivers like Aston Martin Racing’s Darren Turner. In addition to practical training, the buyers will get a theoretical briefing and the use of Darren Turner’s Base Performance Simulators for virtual training.
The Aston Martin Vulcan makes its world premiere on March 3 at the 85th Geneva International Motor Show. The price tag is estimated at £1.5 million (US$2.3 million).
The video below teases the Aston Martin Vulcan.
Source: Aston Martin
