June 26, 2015 finally saw the global
debut of the Aston Martin Vulcan – a track-only supercar and the British luxury
brand’s most intense and exhilarating creation to date. Those attending the
opening session of the 23rd Goodwood Festival of Speed on the grounds of
historic Goodwood House, West Sussex, in England were treated to the first
public running of the Aston Martin Vulcan following its unveiling at the Geneva
Motor Show earlier this year.
The new supercar is limited to
just 24 examples worldwide and has been designed to allow owners the opportunity to precisely
tailor their track day experience through a graduating scale of detailed power
and dynamic performance adjustments.
The 800-plus bhp, all-carbon
fibre, Aston Martin Vulcan made some exciting sprints up the famous hill climb
with Aston Martin Racing works’ driver Darren Turner at the wheel. Before its
inaugural run, the new model was showcased on the Michelin stage in the
Supercar Paddock.
Powered by the most potent
iteration yet of the company’s naturally-aspirated, 7.0-litre V12 petrol
engine, the Aston Martin Vulcan is predicted to be capable of sprinting from 0
to almost 100 kmph in around three seconds, and achieving a top speed of more
than 200mph.
The brand’s CEO, Dr Andy
Palmer, who was on hand to witness the momentous occasion, said, “Seeing the
Aston Martin Vulcan unleashed at Goodwood today is a memory I will cherish for
many years. We wanted to give this car its debut on ‘home soil’, and where
better than at this hugely popular and globally renowned event.”
The new car’s 800-plus bhp
powerplant has been developed in conjunction with Aston Martin Racing and the
front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car draws extensively on the brand’s
rich GT motorsport experience.
Comprising cutting edge
engineering 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.
Dr Palmer added: “As we have
seen at Goodwood today, this is 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.”
Source: Aston Martin