Audi to Offer High-Performance Ceramic Brakes on A8 W12

The advantages that ceramic brakes have over conventional ones are astonishing from a performance perspective. They are even

The advantages that ceramic brakes have over conventional ones are astonishing from a performance perspective. (Photo: Audi of America)

more evident under high-stress situations, where heavy and constant braking is required, such as during racing. If you've ever seen racing cars in action, sometimes you may catch a glimpse of a red-hot rotor, glowing from behind the wheel. From a performance standpoint, ceramic brakes are able to function perfectly, even under ultra-high heat. They can not only withstand heat better, but dissipate it faster, helping to eliminate brake fade. But the A8, even in W12 guise, is nowhere near any of the aforementioned cars in terms of performance, so the question remains - why offer them?

Their size alone also dictates that A8s equipped with carbon ceramic discs must wear heavier 19-inch alloy wheels. The weight saved will make an immense difference in the way that the car drives and performs; lighter discs mean less unsprung weight (weight not supported by the car's suspension), which in turn means a better ride, and sharper cornering. Ceramic

Audi claims that the discs on the A8 will last up to 300,000 km (186,000 miles), approximately four times the life expectancy of a conventional steel disc. (Photo: Audi of America)

brakes also produce less dust than conventional steel discs, meaning that those sparkly 19-inch alloy wheels will stay cleaner, longer.

The use of ceramic brakes also offers other advantages to the A8. For one, because of the abrasion-resistant nature of the carbon ceramic disc, they are far more durable than regular steel discs. Audi claims that the discs on the A8 will last up to 300,000 km (186,000 miles), approximately four times the life expectancy of a conventional steel disc, and a distance that's well beyond what most people will rack up over a car's lifetime. Also, it is worth noting that the sound frequency emitted during braking by carbon ceramic brakes is inaudible to the human ear, and therefore, the brakes themselves are quieter.