The Dawn of the Vulcan

When most people hear the word “Vulcan” they think of the pointy-eared member of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Spock (who was played by the recently deceased Leonard Nimoy). It’s not a word many would relate to British car manufacturer, Aston Martin. That being said, when Aston Martin revealed the new Vulcan, an 800 bhp track car that shoots flames out of its side-exhausts, it wasn’t surprising to learn that it’s not capable of space travel, but it is equally incredible.

Aston Martin has never been known for delivering a casual driving experience. Their price tag alone tends to keep casual drivers at a distance (and everybody else outside of the top tax bracket). With their cheapest model, the V8 Vantage, tagged at just above the $100,000 mark, it’s the type of vehicle that most drivers only ever dream of owning. Men hang posters on the walls of their man caves beside portraits of half-clothed females and neon beer signs, wondering why their lives aren’t more like that of James Bond or Jason Statham. Women see models like Alex Gerrard and the Aston Martin DBS she drives, spinning into cyclones of jealousy and resignation. Eventually, we come to terms with that fact that they’re unattainable, and we learn to admire them for what they are: breathtaking pieces of automotive engineering.

In 2009, Aston Martin raised an already high standard with the One-77 hyper car, which boasted a top speed of 220 mph and packed a 7.3 liter V12. Only 77 were produced and all of them sold at a price of one million pounds each, which is – according to the current value of the American dollar – a massive $1.47 million. In the years that followed 2012, many believed the One-77 to be the most extreme car that Aston Martin has ever made. They were wrong.

With its sleek appearance and specially engineered parts, the Vulcan is a car that stands high above its predecessors. However, the beautifully designed carbon fiber body is only a taste of what this car has to offer: integral limited-slip differential, magnesium torque tube (driveshaft) and Brembo racing calipers on carbon ceramic racing discs. The Vulcan is a marvel of engineering that’s as impressive as it is fast. At the heart of this vehicle is a 7.0 liter V12 that produces upwards of 800 bhp and an Xtrac six-speed transmission adapted from Aston Martin’s GTE race cars.

It’s described by Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer, as “a sports car for true sports car lovers,” and he promises it “sets a whole new standard in the ultra-high luxury supercar class.” If the you’re not intimidated by the $2.33 million dollars it costs to own the car, you should know that purchasing one does come with a few strings attached.

For starters, the Vulcan isn’t a car you can drive down the coast on a Sunday afternoon. In fact, it’s not even street legal; it’s a track only car. New owners are encouraged to take advantage of free driver’s training, which is a must for anyone inexperienced in driving at high speeds. Instruction is given by Aston Martin racing drivers such as Darren Turner, who you might recognize as having won Le-Mans in both 2007 and 2008.

While it’s not mandatory, you’d be crazy to turn it down seeing how it’s an opportunity that’s as limited as the car itself. With production limited to only 24 vehicles, it’s only a matter of time before the Vulcan joins the One-77 in the pages of Aston Martin’s exclusive history.