Formula have just sent us details of their 2003 disc brake range, including a new, super-light magnesium bodied cross-country brake. There are three cross-country brakes, all based on the Formula B4, and three four-pot brakes suitable for everything from XC to DH.

Most exciting of the cross-country anchors is the Formula B4 SL; a brake that Formula claim is the ‘lightest production disc brake ever’. Both lever and calliper reservoir are cast in magnesium, with the complete brake weighing in at 297g front, and 290g rear. The castings are identical to the original B4, but for cooling slots on the calliper. Next up is the Formula B4 Pro using aluminium castings, painted black and featuring the new intercooler holes. Finally, there’s the Formula B4 Team based on the classic  Formual B4 with gold finished calliper.

The fourpot version of the B4, dubbed the 4Racing, is available in three versions: cross-country, freeride and downhill. The 4Racing XC uses the same master cylinder as the B4, improved cooling on the calliper and a weight of 373g front and 394g rear. Both the 4Racing FR and DH share the same, more durable lever and both feature air-cooled four-pot callipers, but the FR runs 185/160mm rotors and the DH runs 205/185mm discs.

Lastly, still alive after all these years, is Formula’s original open system, the Evoluzione 9.5. Now aimed at specialist applications, such as tandems, the Evoluzione uses a 160mm disc front and a 140mm disc rear, with adaptors available to run larger rotors and Manitou forks.