HOW MUCH TORQUE IS TOO MUCH TORQUE: Breaking Down the Latest Sim-Racing Gear from Simagic, Asetek, Moza, and SimLab
The biggest players of the sim-racing industry have been really busy lately, and we're almost drowning in product announcements at this point. Today, we're looking at what Simagic, Asetek, Moza, and SimLab have been up to over ADAC weekend.
1. SIMAGIC P500 Pedals
Starting things off, we have Simagic's P500 pedals. These are now Simagic's lowest priced pedal option, costing 200 USD, and they are designed to bring as many features as possible to the budget user. The pedal set comes with both hall sensor and load cell capability, so you can choose what you want to use on the fly. A wall mount also comes standard with every set, and you can upgrade to a three-pedal system by adding a C-P500 clutch for an extra 60 dollars.
2. Asetek Invicta Wheel, Console Compatibility
Asetek also had a launch of its own: the Invicta steering wheel. This is now the company's top-of-the-line option, and it features a massive amount of customization. For instance, you can get the wheel with LMP handles if you'd like, and you can also adjust button colors, encoder colors, and shifter materials to suit your tastes. The frame is solid aluminum, and there's a 4.3-inch display in the center as well. As their premium-tier offering, the Invicta button box alone starts at 1,300 dollars, and the price increases depending on what customizations you choose. Besides the new steering wheel, Asetek also teased console compatibility for their ecosystem. While it's not yet known if this will be for the Xbox or PlayStation platform, this will definitely be a big change in the Asetek's viability for tons of sim-racers out there.
3. MOZA Essenza SCV12 Wheel
Moza has been making product announcements non-stop as of late, and they continue the trend with their Essenza SCV12 Sim-Racing Steering Wheel. This is a collaboration with Lamborghini, and is based on the 2020 Lambo Squadra Corse. Coming in at 310 millimeters, the Essenza is a Formula-style wheel, with an emphasis on being a true-to-life replica for "sim racers seeking the ultimate in realism". At 1,300 USD it is by far Moza's most expensive steering wheel to date, and alongside their recent Porsche Mission R announcement, it's a clear sign that Moza is very serious about entering the high-end market and collaborating with big-name brands.
4. SimLab 35 Nm Wheelbase, Sequential Shifter
Finally, SimLab has been teasing a lot of prototype work. We're familiar with the company's cockpits, which we happen to really like, but nowadays it seems the company is moving toward expanding their range of product categories. In fact, SimLab brought three wheelbases and a sequential shifter to ADAC. All of these are prototypes that we're expecting to see release sometime in 2025. The wheelbases are all direct-drive systems, and their torque ratings are pretty surprising. At the low end is a 15 Newton-meter unit, followed by a 25 Newton-meter version, and at the top end is a whopping 35 Newton-meter monster. Sounds to me like the perfect wheelbase for simulating sudden loss of power steering. Apart from the wheelbases, the sequential shifter will be a highly compact unit, with easily adjustable stiffness and multiple shifter rod options.