Aston Martin Vulcan

Aston Martin Vulcan at a glance

The Vulcan is a front-engined two-seat coupé built for circuits, with a carbon-fibre body and rear-wheel drive. It was never homologated for the road from the factory. More Aston Martin models are listed in our Aston Martin catalogue.

Why the Vulcan matters

For Aston Martin, the Vulcan was a statement. The brand was best known for elegant grand tourers, and the Vulcan showed that it could also build an extreme, very fast machine able to stand comparison with the fastest track cars of its time. It changed how many enthusiasts saw the British marque and paved the way for its later hypercar projects. Because it was sold with a complete support package rather than as a simple car, it also became a model for exclusive track-day programmes, in which the manufacturer looks after the car, the driver training and the events for a small circle of owners.

Exterior

The Vulcan's exterior, like its cabin and engineering, represents the top level of Aston Martin's engineering and design. Thanks to the latest lightweight composite materials, the car weighs only about 1,350 kg dry, and its lightness and aggression are obvious at a glance. It is wide and low with a noticeably long front end, and it carries many carbon-fibre aerodynamic parts, including a splitter, diffuser and sills. Every surface follows racing-car principles, with flowing, well-proportioned shapes. The car rides on 19-inch centre-lock wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

The titanium exhaust pipes exit through the sills, just ahead of the rear wheels, and are known for spitting flames on upshifts. Many observers felt the Vulcan's design was not only striking but also set a direction for future Aston Martin sports cars. At the rear, a large wing and slim LED tail lights sit above a huge diffuser - made possible because the side-exit exhaust left the whole rear end free for aerodynamics.

Interior

The cockpit is focused on the driver and on lap times, but it is not bare. Alcantara, leather and carbon fibre are used, along with aluminium and titanium details, and the finish is of high quality. The heavily bolstered seats are shaped to fit each owner. A roll cage reinforces the cabin. The steering wheel has no top section, giving a clear view of the digital display, which shows vehicle status and race data. The windows are polycarbonate. Aston Martin offered a long list of options and personalisation, promising that no two cars would be the same.

Each of the 24 owners received a tailored driver-development programme, progressing from other Aston Martin models to the Vulcan itself, with their own engineer and instructor, technical support and dedicated track days.

Engine and transmission

The V12 was the most powerful engine Aston Martin had built at the time. Power goes to the rear wheels through the Xtrac sequential gearbox and a limited-slip differential.

Chassis

The Vulcan has an aluminium-alloy chassis structure clothed in a carbon-fibre body. The suspension uses adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. Brakes are Brembo carbon-ceramic discs, 380 mm at the front and 360 mm at the rear, with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, and a Bosch ABS system.

AMR Pro and the road-legal Vulcan

At the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Aston Martin unveiled the AMR Pro package. It added a dual-element rear wing with a Gurney flap, larger dive planes, louvres in the front wheel arches and turning vanes, increasing downforce by 27% and shifting the weight distribution to 47/53. Engine output was unchanged, but a shorter final drive improved acceleration. The package could be fitted to existing cars by Aston Martin's Q division.

Although the Vulcan is not road-legal, the RML Group spent about 18 months converting one car for the road. Changes included a higher ride height, new headlights, DB11 mirrors, a windscreen wiper, revised suspension, gearing, clutch and steering lock, and a number-plate mounting; the owner can return the car to track specification. It remains the only road-legal Vulcan. One Vulcan has also raced in a British endurance championship alongside GT3 cars.

Key specifications

Strengths and weaknesses

The Vulcan's strengths are its glorious naturally aspirated V12, outstanding performance, a low weight for such a large engine, extreme aerodynamics, high-quality materials and the full factory driver-development programme that came with it. Its weaknesses are obvious: it cannot be driven on public roads without conversion, only 24 exist, and all were sold. Its closest rivals among track-only hypercars are the Ferrari FXX K and McLaren P1 GTR.