Electronic Wedge Brakes...in 2008 Audis?
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061109/FREE/61106011/1065">AutoWeek</a></li></ul>

very interesting, but I'd hesitate to be completely dependent on powered motors to stop.

Seems like they're making a wildly inflated claim.
 

"<i>A prototype with the wedge brakes regularly required less than half the distance to come to a complete stop than the prototype with the standard brakes.</i>"

I'll grant that saving a fraction of a second before maximum braking force is applied will reduce stopping distances; but imho, cutting stopping distance in half with this technology is impossible.

The Ferrari Enzo sets the benchmark in the <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/brakes/msgs/148.phtml">Braking g Comparison</a>. From 80 mph, it's take the Ferrari 3.2 sec to come to a complete stop when braking at 1.14 g. Does anyone believe that essentially zero braking occurs for 1.6 sec "<i>until the buildup of forces before the caliper is able to grip the disc</i>"? ... I don't think so.

IMHO, the only way to cut stopping distance in half is to double the coefficient of friction between the road and tire -- for example, by using wings to double the downforce on the tire.

<img src="http://pws.prserv.net/usinet.Young/photos/chicagoautoshow.jpg">

Is achieving good rotor grip that much of a problem for daily drivers anyway?

No, and it's not a problem for race cars either.
 

At this point, the main emphasis is on handling gains from the use of lighter brake components (ceramic or carbon rotors).