Earlier in February this year at the Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin teased the Vulcan, a track-only V12 powered supercar to its fans around the world. For the first time ever at Goodwood, patrons of the West Sussex county, festival-of-all-things-fast witnessed the first public running of the Vulcan when it took the hill climb with Aston’s LM driver Darren Turner behind the wheel.
This is the premier of Aston’s offering to the ultra-exclusive billionaire boys club for adrenaline junkies who desire stripped out megapowered track-only supercars. Other members of this club include the likes of the McLaren P1 GTR, the La Ferrari based FXX-K and the ageing Pagani Zonda R. So how does this Aston stack up against these hand built tarmac-munching track weapons ?
The Vulcan was made in conjunction with Aston Martin Racing’s (AMR) efforts in the 24 hours of Le Mans. Powering the Vulcan is a 7.0-litre, twelve-cylinder nuclear powerplant that seems to have familial ties with the million-Pound (and then some) Aston Martin One-77. It’s reported to produce over 800 hp that fires onto the rear set of 345/30 X19 wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox built by British motorsport transmission gurus, Xtrac.
Now, Aston has kept their cards rather close to the chest here pertaining to the Vulcan’s facts and figures. But what we can tell you is that it does the century sprint in under three seconds. The top speed is claimed to be in excess of 320 km/h. Go figure! Not only that, but the Vulcan also weighs an estimated 1,350 kg, which works out to nearly 600 hp per tonne!
The Vulcan was developed by Aston Martin’s long-term specialist body engineering, manufacturing partner and ally, Multimatic, who helped built the carbon composite monocoque and body. Multimatic then passed the torch over to braking specialist Brembo who stuck a pair of 380mm diameter carbon ceramic racing disc brakes upfront with a pair of 360mm rotors at the rear.
Planting the wheels to the ground is derived from an anti-dive geometry push rod suspension setup. Multimatic lent a hand with the DSSV or Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars. The Vulcan also comes equipped with variable traction control and an adjustable anti-lock brake system.
Only 24 prime examples will be built and tucked away safely by wealthy aspiring owners. Its cost? A purported sum of almost 1.5 million Pounds or RM8.9 million at press time.
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