Audi’s Shooting Break Concept remains to be one of the most remarkable car technology existing today. Although this concept was unveiled two years ago, it is still widely used and developed for more recent and modern models of Audi cars. Contrary to its name, it is not directly about the car brake technology, but more on the concept and aerodynamics of a sporty hatchback. This same concept is also applied to Audi’s latest baby, the Audi A1. Actually, the main point of the name “Shooting Brake” pertains to the capacity of the car to go from 0 to 100 kph in just a matter of six blurred seconds. Good car brake system comes in default on all Audi models.

As for the Audi A1, Audi is planning to build a new concept that is patterned to the Shooting Brakes, and implement it to the A1. The power of the Shooting Brakes concept will be designed onto the A1, together with some mixture of coupe fused with station wagon styling elements. They aim to target BMW’s 1-Series and its ever-popular MINI. Hence, the design of the A1was described to be “bullish”, with its extra-big wheels, wide rims, narrow roofline and square-shaped wheel which were taken from the 1980s sports Quattro. This is according to a report done by m&c.com. This new change will take over the A1 by the year 2009, so stand by for more updates.

Source:

Monsters and Critics

Utmost comfort as well as safety on the road are just two of the most lauded features of the new and improved Audi A4. The German automaker has made sure that the latest version of the Audi A4 will take center stage not only in the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, but as well as on the real road.

The new Audi A4’s brake system is considered to be one of the best offerings of this Germany-made car. Audi A4’s electro-mechanical parking brake, which has been patterned after the Audi A8, can aid the driver in backing away from a standstill and moreover work as an emergency brake for the vehicle.

What makes the Aud A4’s brake system this tough? The answer is found behind the wheels of this big car. The brake discs equipped in each wheel has a 314 mm diameter and 300 mm diameter for front and rear wheels, respectively. In addition to that, the brake pads utilized by the Audi A4 have been designed and manufactured with more friction material. The rubbed area now covers about 20 percent of the total brake pad size. On the other hand, the Audi A4 models with bigger V6 engines are geared with even larger and powerful brake discs. To carry the heavy load of a V6-engined A4, 320mm discs and composite spheroidal-graphite and aluminum callipers were utilized.

While only some brake parts are unique to specific A4 models, the brake pedals of all, on the other hand, are the same. In order to achieve precise slowing down and stopping , the brake pedal has a firm action with the aid of the accurate feedback that allows effective brake application even when the pedal has not been pressed that hard. Behind this braking system is the ESP stabilization technology that contributes greatly to the optimum performance of the brakes. Hydraulic valves are the key players of ESP and these parts will be able to build up pressure for better braking. For example, an A4 driving along a snow-filled road at a speed below 70 km per hour could disengage some of the anti-slip functions by only slightly pressing the brake pedal.

Moreover, the ESP geared in the new A4 has additional features such as stabilize the vehicle, dry the brake discs, and activate the hazard signal once the brake pedal was suddenly pressed.