ASTON
MARTIN VULCAN
Introducing
the Aston Martin Vulcan – a track-only supercar and the British luxury brand’s
most intense and exhilarating creation to date.
Born
out of extensive motorsport experience – and using the brand’s acknowledged
flair for design and engineering ingenuity – the 800-plus bhp, all-carbon fibre
Aston Martin Vulcan promises truly extreme performance.
Uniquely
for Aston Martin the new supercar – limited to just 24 examples worldwide –
will allow owners the opportunity to precisely tailor their track day
experience through a graduating scale of detailed power and dynamic performance
adjustments.
CEO,
Dr Andy Palmer, said: “Aston Martin Vulcan is, by its very nature, a rare and
thrilling supercar. Designed and engineered to deliver a genuinely bespoke
driving experience that draws on our rich heritage, this car tailors its power
and handling to both the capabilities of the driver and the characteristics of
the track.
“A
sports car for true sports car lovers, I believe the Aston Martin Vulcan – and
the unique ownership programme that sits behind it – sets a whole new standard
in the ultra-high luxury supercar class.”
Motorsport-inspired
Styled
entirely in-house by the Aston Martin design team led by Chief Creative Officer
Marek Reichman, and with a design language hinting at the next generation of
Aston Martin sports cars, this supercar is powered by the most potent iteration
yet of the company’s naturally-aspirated, 7.0-litre V12 petrol engine.
With
its 800-plus bhp powerplant developed in conjunction with Aston Martin Racing,
this front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car draws extensively on the
brand’s rich GT motorsport experience.
Utilising
the techniques of world-class motorsport engineering, the supercar sees its
power-to-weight ratio exceed those of the GTE cars which compete in the FIA’s
annual World Endurance Championship.
Comprising
cutting edge engineering including that sourced from the brand’s successful GT
racing campaign, the car features a carbon fibre monocoque and body constructed
by Aston Martin’s long-term specialist body engineering and manufacturing
partner Multimatic, integral limited-slip differential, magnesium torque tube
with carbon fibre propeller shaft and Brembo racing calipers acting on carbon
ceramic racing disc brakes which measure 380mm in diameter at the front and
360mm at the rear.
Drive
is channelled to the 345/30 x19 rear wheels and Michelin race specification
tyres through a race-bred rear mid-mounted Xtrac six-speed sequential shift
gearbox.
Track-derived
pushrod suspension with anti-dive geometry is complemented by Multimatic’s
Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars
front and rear, driver-adjustable anti-lock braking, and variable traction
control.
The
new track car will comply with all relevant FIA race safety requirements.
Aston
Martin’s Director of Special Projects and Motorsport, David King, said: “Taking
the extensive learning from our various successful racing programmes and
applying it to this exceptional track car for customers has been an exciting
and sometimes challenging task for the team here at Gaydon.
“Our
deep and broad motorsport experience, allied to our renowned road car
expertise, has allowed us to make the Aston Martin Vulcan the absolutely
compelling proposition it is today.”
Fast-track
training
Prior
to taking delivery of their cars, owners will be offered the opportunity to
take part in an extensive and detailed programme of intensive track driver
training.
Experienced
racers including Aston Martin Racing’s Le Mans-winning Darren Turner will
support owners on their learning journey, offering them the chance to refine
their track driving technique and increase their ability through a
carefully-constructed series of practical and theoretical driver training
events.
Using
a number of exciting high performance Aston Martins including the V12 Vantage S
and One-77 road cars and the Vantage GT4 race car, customers will gradually
build experience and develop their track technique, before beginning their
thrilling personal journeys into the immense performance potential of their
Aston Martin Vulcan.
David
King said: “We will be running a series of exclusive track day events
commencing in 2016 that will offer the opportunity for these customers to
explore their driving capabilities, and the car’s performance potential, on
some of the world’s most famous and glamorous race circuits.”
There
will also be the option of time in the virtual race car world of Darren
Turner’s Base Performance Simulators, where buyers will have ample opportunity
to further refine their driving style in the safety of the digital race track.
No
longer the exclusive preserve of Formula 1, it is widely acknowledged that
using a simulator can help prepare a driver for any race; improving technique
and consistency as well as, ultimately, lap times.
Almost
infinitely flexible in terms of colour and trim options, the exclusive new
sports car will be offered to buyers through Aston Martin’s VIP sales
programme, using the expertise and luxury customer service that is now a
hallmark of the brand’s ‘Q by Aston Martin’ bespoke personalisation service.
Dr
Palmer added: “We have already received strong interest from the customers we
have spoken to about Aston Martin Vulcan.
“The
cars will blend our traditional Aston Martin values of Power, Beauty and Soul
with an unrivalled ownership experience; a unique combination that will
guarantee their place in the brand’s rich and charismatic history.”
Performance
data, together with further technical details about the ultra-exclusive
track-only supercar, will be released closer to its track debut later this
year.