You won't see it tearing down the Autobahn. Not only because there are just 24 in the world, or because they're going to cost 24 lucky drivers about $4.5 million dollars. It's because the Aston Martin Vulcan is just too fast for the road and must be constrained to track driving.
The luxury super car boasts a 7.0-litre V12 engine and a 800-plus bhp powerplant. It is being called the most "intense" and "exhilarating creation" in Aston Martin's car making history.
"Aston Martin Vulcan is, by its very nature, a rare and thrilling super car. 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," stated Aston Marin CEO Andy Palmer.
The super car was built with carbon fiber monocoque and the body was constructed by the car maker's long-term specialist body engineering and manufacturing partner Multimatic. It features magnesium torque tube with a carbon fiber propeller shaft and Brembo racing calipers with carbon ceramic racing disc brakes. It will make its official debut at next week's Geneva motor show.
Let's put it this way: this car is so fast, so powerful, so crazy to drive that before driving it on their own, car owners are being offered an intensive track driver training program with advice and insight from racers, including Aston Martin Racing's Le Mans-winning Darren Turner.
"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," said David King, Aston Martin's director of special projects and motorsport.
The Vulcan features a lower power-to-weight ratio than the GTE cars that compete in the World Endurance Championship, according to reports. The vehicle's drive is channeled rearward to 19-inch wheels and there's a six-speed sequential transmission.
"It is extreme in every sense," said designer Marek Reichman. "It's a project that reaches out to the pinnacle of performance and design. It's a unique combination in that respect; an uncompromised track car that is also beautiful and does not ignore style and proportion."
