Aston Martin Vulcan makes Spa debut with 800bhp V12
Aston Martin’s Vulcan track car ran at Spa during the 24 Hours weekend, revealing its 7.0-litre V12, advanced aerodynamics and motorsport-derived chassis.
Aston Martin’s Vulcan made its public dynamic debut during the 2015 24 Hours of Spa weekend, taking to the Belgian circuit in the hands of works driver Darren Turner. The Vulcan, a track-only model limited to 24 units, is the most powerful car the company has built for private customers, and marks a technical step beyond the One-77.
The Vulcan’s centrepiece is a 7.0-litre naturally aspirated V12, developed with input from Cosworth and producing more than 800bhp. The engine is all new, sharing neither block nor internals with the One-77’s V12, and is positioned behind the front axle for improved weight distribution. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox, weighing just 70kg, via a magnesium torque tube that saves around 30% in weight compared to a conventional item.
Aston Martin has focused on weight reduction and balance throughout the Vulcan. The car sits on a carbon fibre monocoque, with a titanium side-exit exhaust system and a roll cage made from 15CDV6 steel to save 6kg compared to the usual T45. The roll cage’s lighter weight also lowers the centre of gravity, crucial for a car generating 1.3 tonnes of downforce at maximum speed, enough, as Aston Martin points out, to theoretically drive upside down.
Chassis and driver controls
The Vulcan’s suspension uses horizontally mounted, four-way adjustable dampers at each corner. The braking system is supplied by Brembo, with carbon fibre discs and Formula One-derived technology: six-piston calipers at the front, four at the rear, and a Bosch adjustable ABS system. Inside, the cockpit features FIA-approved Recaro seats and an adjustable pedal box, with a Cosworth-supplied driver display providing telemetry, lap timing and performance data.
Owners can adjust the engine output via a control dial, with three selectable power levels. Aston Martin suggested these would likely be set at 600bhp, 700bhp and full power, though final values were still to be confirmed at launch. The Vulcan’s titanium exhaust exits ahead of the rear axle to avoid disturbing rear aerodynamics. Customers receive the car finished in white as standard, with extensive personalisation available.
Driver experience and production
Each Vulcan owner is enrolled in a three-year driver development programme, reflecting the car’s focus on track use and the need for specialist training to exploit its performance. The model’s low build number and technical specification place it among the most exclusive track cars of its era.
The Vulcan’s Spa appearance follows its static unveiling at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Its technical approach and limited production echo a growing trend for ultra-high-performance, track-only supercars from luxury manufacturers.
