The new Ferrari 488 GTB that
made its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show has a serious bit of
Brembo in it. Global braking champions, Brembo has perfected a high performance
braking system offering mechatronics and an appealing aesthetic design in the
car. This is the latest addition to the Cavallino family.
Brembo supplies the entire
braking system for the new 8-cylinder engine developed by the House of Ferrari.
According to a Brembo press release, it is designed to ensure racing track performances,
but can also be used on the road by the less expert driver. The first
characteristic of the braking system in a 670 CV vehicle is its performance, or
to be more precise, its braking power and light weight, the basic elements that
determine the exceptional, dynamic conduct of the vehicle on the road and a
notable level of driving comfort.
Given the high charges
generated by the pressure of the pistons on the brake pads, to guarantee
maximum stiffness and minimum deformation, the calipers are monoblock, meaning
that they are machined from a single block of melted aluminium. Their
innovative design mainly generates a considerable reduction in the weights of
the unsuspended masses and heightens the feeling on the pedal, with optimised
absorption.
Both front and rear calipers
have pistons with various diameters to guarantee that the brake pad wears
evenly, as otherwise it would wear out faster on the brake disc entrance
corner. Brembo CCM brake discs, which are made of a composite ceramic material,
ensure a weight reduction of 50pc compared to cast iron brake discs. For this component
this also generates a weight reduction in the vehicle's unsuspended masses. The
brake pads have also been produced by Brembo and their friction material is a
mixture of organic elements specifically dosed to guarantee maximum braking
performance when used with
Brembo CCM brake discs.
The distinctive features of
the braking system of the 488 GTB are fruit of a minimal, simple design that
can easily be seen in the decidedly open, hollow design of the brake caliper
and blends in perfectly with the stylish, streamline aesthetics of the car.
Paying close attention to
detail and to the design also means achieving a perfect level of symmetry
between the front and rear calipers. Even if the front caliper has 6 pistons
and the rear piston has 4 plus a built-in electric parking brake, the two components
are visually identical, giving the entire vehicle an improved sense of balance
and symmetry.
Finally, Brembo CCM brake
discs, which have already won the Compasso d’Oro award, also give the 488 GTB
an additional touch of aesthetic refinement, also thanks to their particular
texture.
The rear caliper is
characterised by the presence of a built-in electric parking brake: a solution
developed by Brembo that combines traditional mechanical skills with latest
electronic functions, to produce a caliper with a high mechatronics content. Brembo
has combined the electronic control system and the software used to monitor the
parking brake to form a single component.