Audi’s ‘UFO’ brakes could have changed everything but people ended up hating them
- Audi’s UFO brakes were an innovative idea
- They were first introduced in 1988 and first applied to the Audi V8
- Unfortunately, Audi had to switch back to the regular disc brakes
Published on Sep 29, 2024 at 6:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Daksh Chaudhary
Last updated on Sep 26, 2024 at 10:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
UFO brakes by Audi could have changed the future of braking technology – but sadly, people ended up hating it.
This revolutionary change to the braking system was introduced in 1988 and first applied to the Audi V8.
What made these brakes special was that they were made to solve a big problem.
With the usual brakes on the 15-inch wheels, the cars didn’t have enough stopping power. However, the introduction of UFO brakes brought much better stopping power and improved heat management.
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UFO Brakes were an innovative idea
The UFO Brakes invented by Audi had an inside-out design.
The idea was to place the brake calipers inside the rotor instead of outside, allowing Audi to make the rotors bigger without needing larger wheels.
As a result, the brakes were given more friction, with an improved ability to cool down, reducing the chances of brake fade.
Along with that, the force applied to the brake pedal was also reduced.
Despite the potential to become something big in the automotive industry, these brakes became a big failure.
Audi had to give on their new innovation
Firstly, manufacturing and maintaining the UFO brakes was pretty steep.
Where the regular rotors could be replaced for just around $100 dollars, UFO rotors would cost around $500.
Even worse, the brakes would bend easily during regular driving because they heated up unevenly, making for frequent replacement.
Then came the appearance.
People certainly didn’t like the looks of the new brakes, calling them cheap.
Unfortunately, Audi had to give up on the whole idea and quickly switched back to the regular disc brakes.
Today, it’s rare to find these brakes in any of the cars, as they were only tested on fewer models like the Audi V8 and some earlier models of the Audi S4.
Despite its failure, this braking technology was a rare idea that shows the commitment of the brand to bring something unique to the table.
