World’s First Titanium Car Uses ZR1 Power

With a body made of titanium and carbon fiber and the engine from a C6 ZR1 the Icona Vulcano Titanium is like no other car in the world.

When you set out to build a car inspired by the world’s fastest airplane you are aiming for something special. The Icona Vulcano Titanium is certainly special. It is also a world first. When the car first debuted about a dozen years ago it was the first ever titanium car.

Now in 2025 it is still the only titanium car ever built. And while the hand-hammered titanium body may grab all the headlines, we can’t forget what is under the hood. It is a lightly modified LS9 V8 that saw duty in the C6 ZR1 Corvette.

Icona is an Italian company, so you would think when they were looking for a powertrain for their hypercar they would look towards Ferrari or Lamborghini. But we all know that the LS family of engines are famous for making big power reliability. And that LS reputation is known the world over as is proven with the selection of the LS9 to power the only titanium car in the world.

SR-71 Blackbird Inspiration

In 1976, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird broke the world’s record for sustained altitude in horizontal flight at 85,069 feet. The same day another SR-71 set an absolute speed record of 2,193.2 miles per hour, approximately Mach 3.3.

The plane was primarily constructed out of titanium thanks to its exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio and its ability to withstand the extreme temperatures. So, Icona set out to do the same, but with a car. A car with a titanium exhaust is exotic enough, but an entire body?

That is unheard of. The Vulcano Titanium was built by Cecomp, an Italian coachbuilder. Sculpting the body took over one thousand hours of work. It is an incredible achievement.

Power

As if the 638-horsepower LS9 from the C6 ZR1 was not powerful enough, the engine was tuned to produce a healthy 680 horsepower. A number that even today would make it the second most-powerful Corvette available, behind only the staggering C8 ZR1.

In a video posted on the Icona Design Group YouTube channel you can hear the Vulcano Titanium being put through its paces. That glorious V8 sound is unmistakable.

Do You Want One?

The Vulcano Titanium is obviously not a series production car. According to a report by CarBuzz the car was offered for sale at a price of roughly $2.8 million. It was purchased by a private collector. Will we ever see another titanium car? Considering the cost and difficulty working with the material, that is highly unlikely.

To our knowledge, no one else has even tried it in the last dozen years. But if we do, it would not surprise us if it would once again feature a GM small block V8 engine. Perhaps a twin-turbo LT7 could be used this time. It might not match the SR-71 in top speed, but it would be closer than you might think.

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.