Aston Martin has revealed how its new Vulcan model will look, an extreme track-only supercar to be built in very limited numbers for those that have the means to play race driver when they feel the need. Think of it as a rival for such cars as the McLaren P1 GTR and Ferrari FXX K.
Holy crap, it's fast so?
It promises to be, though Aston Martin is still a little coy about all the technical specifications. We do know that it's powered by the 'most potent iteration yet' of Aston's glorious 7.0-litre V12 petrol engine, promising in the region of 800hp. The One-77, by way of reference, made do with 760hp...
Yikes, should be a bit lively then...
Indeed it should, especially as all that power goes to the rear wheels only - via an Xtrac six-speed sequential shift gearbox. The unenviable job of transmitting that to the road goes to 19-inch Michelin race specification tyres, though the 345/30 R19 wheels are attached to some rather trick suspension. It's a pushrod design, just like in many forms of motorsport, with anti-dive geometry. On top of that there's something called Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) adjustable dampers by Multimatic and it looks like the anti-lock braking and traction control systems are also variable by the driver.
This is beginning to sound a bit serious. For the experienced only?
You'd think, but Aston Martin makes enough reference in its release to intensive driver training and 'graduating scale of detailed power and dynamic performance adjustments' on the car that you get the feeling it has been designed from the outset to be customised to the owner's skill level. Saying that, it looks ready for some rather serious lap times with what looks like a pukka aerodynamic downforce package. And Aston Martin says that the Vulcan's buyers can 'build experience and develop their track technique' in the V12 Vantage S, One-77 and the Vantage GT4 race car, suggesting that the Vulcan is on a whole other level.
Sounds bloody awesome. Where do I sign?
We suspect the Vulcan will be sold out quickly, despite its £1.5 million price tag (before local taxes), as Aston Martin will produce just 24 examples. That's believed to be in homage to the company's association with 24-hour endurance racing at Le Mans and the Nürburgring and means there will be precious few chances for members of the public to see an Aston Vulcan in the flesh (ok, carbon fibre). Get yourself over to the Geneva Motor Show next week if you'd like to. In the meantime, turn up your speakers to the maximum and press play on the video below.
