Ferrari recently announced that all of their models will come with Ceramic disc brakes as standard equipment from 2008. This is great news for Ferrari buyers as a once $10,000 optional extra is now standard. These disc brakes have, for a few years now, been a very expensive add-on, but a very good one as they nearly eliminate brake fade, and very lightweight, and work to reduce stopping distances – critical in preventing auto accidents.

If Ferrari is able to provide these life-saving brakes as standard equipment, we should infer that the cost base for these items is reduced. The supply and use of these is apparently so wide-spread now that the cost if coming down. As a result, we may see these brakes coming to luxury cars such as BMW, Mercedes, and Audi in the next few years. By 2020, we would expect to see their use on more mass-market cars, just as Satellite Navigation was once a very expensive option on only the most expensive luxury cars.

The article from our friends at LeftLane News:

Ferrari has announced that carbon ceramic brakes will be a standard feature across its entire 2008 model lineup. The announcement was made today by Ferrari General Manager Amedeo Felisa at the Bologna Motor Show.

While ceramic brakes have been optional on some of the best sports in the world for several years — such as on vehicles offered by Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari — Ferrari’s announcement marks the first time an automaker has made them standard across its entire range.
Ceramic brakes disperse heat better than their standard counterparts and all but eliminate brake fade. Normally the performance brake option costs at least $10,000.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 10:00 am and is filed under Ferrari, Technology, pollution. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. This post was read by 3696 people until now. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.