Aston Martin Vulcan

Aston Martin Vulcan
Overview
Manufacturer	Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
Production	2015–2016 24 units built
Assembly	Gaydon, Warwickshire, England
Designer	Marek Reichman
Body and chassis
Class	Track day car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	Aston Martin One-77
Powertrain
Engine	7.0 L naturally-aspirated V12
Power output	820 hp (611 kW; 831 PS) 590 lb⋅ft (800 N⋅m)
Transmission	6-speed sequential
Dimensions
Length	4,807 mm (189 in)
Width	2,063 mm (81 in)
Height	1,235 mm (49 in)
Kerb weight	1,350 kg (2,976 lb)

The Aston Martin Vulcan is a two-door, two-seater, high-performance lightweight track-only car launched in 2015 by Aston Martin at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

The Vulcan was designed by Aston Martin's creative officer Marek Reichman, taking inspirations from the then Aston Martin current models, such as the Vantage, the DB9 and the One-77.^[1] The Vulcan is a limited edition model and only 24 cars were produced with each car priced at US$2.3 million.^[2]

Specifications

Its engine, a 7.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12, mounted in an aluminium alloy chassis with a carbon fibre body, delivers 820 hp (611 kW; 831 PS) at 7,750 rpm and 590 lb⋅ft (800 N⋅m) at 6,500 rpm.^[3] The Vulcan is fitted with carbon ceramic brakes, magnesium torque tube with a carbon fibre propeller shaft, limited-slip differential and Xtrac 6-speed sequential transmission. The car has a dry kerb weight of 1,350 kg (2,980 lb).^[4] The Vulcan uses Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.^[3] Stopping power is aided courtesy of carbon-ceramic brakes, which measure 380 mm (15 in) at the front, 360 mm (14 in) at the rear.^[5]

Engine power is selectable using a selector knob in the car, with the first option setting the power to 500 hp (373 kW; 507 PS), the second option setting the power to 675 hp (503 kW; 684 PS), and the third and final option unleashing the full 820 hp (611 kW; 831 PS).^[3]

The car has a race-derived pushrod suspension with anti-dive geometry and 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.

Like the Ferrari FXX, Ferrari 599XX, FXX-K, and the McLaren P1 GTR, the Vulcan must be approved to drive on track day events by the factory. However, unlike those cars, customers can keep the car on their own.

Vulcan AMR Pro

The AMR Pro package for the Vulcan was unveiled at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The package contains extra aerodynamic pieces to enhance the performance of the car, with the presence of an enhanced dual-element rear wing with a gurney flap, large dive planes, side wheel arch louvers, and turning vanes designed to improve steering response.^[6] These improvements allow the car's downforce performance to enhance with an increase of 27%.^[6] Balance has been improved as well, with a 47/53 weight distribution, thanks to the majority of the pressure going towards the center of the car.^[7]

The car still has the same 7.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 as the regular Vulcan, with the same 820 hp (611 kW; 831 PS) of power. The 6-speed transmission's ratios are changed and are now shorter in order to improve acceleration.

All existing cars are fitted with the AMR Pro package by Aston Martin's Q division at the owner's request.

Road-legal conversion

An Aston Martin Vulcan was made road-legal by British engineering company RML Group through a series of modifications. This particular car remains the only Vulcan to be made legal for the road. Several changes had to be performed in order to meet road regulations. The group took 18 months to modify the entire car.^[8]

The ride height of the car is raised for ground clearance.^[9] The rear LED "blades" are covered with a plastic light housing for radius management. Two front integrated headlights have been added, under the inspiration of the modern Aston Martin design. The styling of the lights mimic the factory lights of the Vulcan. As for the front splitter, the car's fences, placed on the side of the aerodynamic piece for more downforce, have been removed, and the length of the carbon fibre splitter has also been shortened.^[9]

The 7.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 is remapped for emissions, and the cooling system is replaced with a different unit for better temperature control. The car's gear ratios are altered, and the clutch was changed to make the launch easier than the regular Vulcan.^[8] Spring rates and damper rates have been changed, and ride height lifting has been added to allow for easier driving on the road. The steering lock became less limited to allow the car to steer more and give a smaller turning radius.^[9]

The Vulcan's side mirrors have been replaced in favour of the Aston Martin DB11's mirrors, since the regular Vulcan's mirror glass does not meet road regulations, and it does not include mirror-integrated indicators. All windows has been replaced with specific units that meet road regulations, and a windscreen wiper and washer jets have been added. The rear bumper has been modified to allow for a Euro-spec registration plate to be installed, along with plate lights, and a reflector. The rear wing plates' ends contain an amber light strip for direction indicators, and the fuel cap has been modified. As for the interior, the seats (which originally had head-support) have been changed to allow for visibility, and the steering wheel has been drastically modified. The doors are central-locking, and the car contains an immobiliser key.^[9]

The engine still has the same power output as the regular Vulcan.

According to RML, owners of this car can ask the group to revert the car back to racing spec whenever the owner desires.^[10]

References

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