Bsimracing Sim Racing Resources and News for the racing enthousiast.
After a number of teaser Tweets, hashtags, and statements such as #backtocompete and “400-watts peak power out of the box“ many sim racers expected Thrustmaster to take the battle of the affordable Direct Drive wheels to Fanatec. The “Back to Compete” statement seems to be valid but in an entirely different context.
Today Thrustmaster Officially unveiled the T-GT II steering wheel as the successor of the Thrustmaster T-GT wheel that was famed as the official wheel for the Gran Turismo Sport title on the PlayStation 4. The Thrustmaster T-GT II is compatible with the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Key Features:
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with 25 action buttons, push-button, and 4 rotary selectors native to GT Sport (differential, traction control, fuel, torque)
- New generation 40 Watt brushless motor for rapid force feedback with a high torque capacity
- Internal components from the European automotive industry (AEC-Q) for maximum quality and durability of use
- Exclusive Proprietary Technologies: T-AEC-Q, T-DCC, T-RTF, T-LIN, T40-VE, T-DFB, TF.OC, TM.CE and T-TURBO
- Proprietary Magnetic Technology (HEART) for unlimited life and optimum precision
- Quick and easy steering wheel change system to use different types of steering wheels (F1, Rally, etc.) sold separately
- Dual Strap System for smooth play sessions without dead zones
- Includes a T3PA GT II 3-pedal crankset and is compatible with the T-LCM Pedals sold separately
- Compatible with Thrustmaster TH8A and TSS Handbrake shifters and hand brakes sold separately
- Officially licensed for PlayStation 5 and Gran Turismo: compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC
The T-GT II steering wheel is a concentrate of extremely innovative technologies, the result of an in-depth study carried out on all the sensations essential for an ultra-realistic racing experience.
Developed after more than 23,000 hours of R&D design, the mission of the T-GT II is to offer force feedback just as powerful as that present in the T-GT while offering the possibility to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC players to ” access a completely new level of precision and durability. Officially licensed for PlayStation 5 and Gran Turismo, the steering wheel benefits from advantages and sensations exclusive to GT Sport thanks to technologies such as T-LIN, T-DCC but above all T-DFB (unique 3D perception of force feedback).
Needless to say, the new T-GT II, officially licensed for both PlayStation 5 and GT Sport is not a Direct Drive unit, but a classic belt-driven wheel that with a few exceptions is still relying on the same technology used in the original wheel. However, Thrustmaster claims to have spent over 23,000 hours on research and refinement, turning the T-GT II wheel into a worthy upgrade.
To accomplish this upgrade task, Thrustmaster introduced the T-DCC (Drift Curve Calculation) and T-RTF (Real-Time Force feedback) systems, and the use of new internal AEC-Q-certified components.
In good Thrustmaster fashion, the wheel technology can be summed up in a number of new and existing abbreviations. Lets list them up.
T-DCC
• T-GT II features unique Drift Curve Calculation (T-DCC) technology for a stable level of responsiveness in any circumstances.
T-RTF
• Force Feedback effects are processed by a built-in processor in real time (T-RTF), and do not depend on games’ CPU usage in order to avoid a loss of responsiveness.
T-Lin
• Force Feedback LINEARITY.
• The force felt by the user is 100% proportional to the force determined in the game.
• Cars’ behavior and track conditions are faithfully reproduced with more details and dynamics.
T-40VE
• 40-watt Linear brushless Force Feedback and incredible velocity (dynamic torque) from long stall curves (STALL mode) to super-responsive zigzags (DYNAMIC mode).
T-M.C.E.
• Motor-Cooling Embedded system* to maintain linearity and dynamics with the new T-40VE motor.
• 50% more dynamics, 4 times greater stall force, and heat dissipation via monophasic cooling.**
*patent pending
** Compared to Thrustmaster Force Feedback steering wheels of the current range.
T-F.O.C.
• New F.O.C (Field-Oriented Control) algorithm for dynamic optimization of the response to intense torque demands.
• H.E.A.R.T* (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) providing 16-bit resolution (65,636 values) *U.S. patent number 8,920,240
T-Turbo
• Toroidal-shaped turbo power for optimized power efficiency of 86% (with just 14% heat generation), with a finless design.
• Peak power: 400 watts.
T-DFB
• Exclusive for GT Sport and for future Gran Turismo games.
• Combination of the brushless motor’s refined Force Feedback with Depth Feedback for a realistic 3D perception of the environment.
• Added suspension and vibration effects via the steering column for more information about cars’ behavior and physics, plus more sensations.
• Improved anticipation and instant reaction to track conditions.
The Thrustmaster T-GT II wheel is compatible with the PS4, PS5, and PC, and is is interchangeable with Thrustmaster add-on wheels, pedal sets, TH8A Add-On Shifter, and TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod +.
In Europe, the T-GT II, is currently available as a bundle combining the wheel and the T3PA pedal set, for €749.99 / $799.99 / £699.99. British customers will be able to pick up a wheel bundle in September, while North America will see the bundle released in October, followed by the rest of the world.
By the end of the year, Thrustmaster will also release a standalone T-GT II wheelbase (without pedals) costing €649.99 / $699.99 / £599.99. Furthermore, at the same time, a bare wheelbase (without the rim) will become available for €449.99 / $499.99 / £399.99.
Official Webpage – www.thrustmaster.com
