TS-PC Racer announced

From nowhere, Thrustmaster has surprised us today with a new wheel base. Without any previous announcements or clues about this was happening, because is not “the” expected DD wheel, this base seems to me the long awaited T500 replacement. A new evolution focused in hardcore simracers who use PC platform to squeeze their skills and their training. At first sight steering wheel base still stands over a brush-less motor which is no different from the models available on the market, but with some improvements over the old T500 base, without the embedded paddles, and more refined torque and reliability. An open wheel style rim has also appeared with the base, showing leds, rotary and directional buttons.

What we know for sure; available on December 5, without pedals or rim included at 499$ dollars, 399£ or 550€ and non console compatible.

First manufacturer specifications and data can be found in the below Thrustmaster press release.

Rennes, November 17, 2016 — Thrustmaster is offering the best PC racers the opportunity to achieve even better race track performance with the brand-new TS-PC Racer, its latest creation combining a base incorporating next-generation technologies with Thrustmaster’s first “open wheel” design, allowing users to experience an incredible range of sensations and information in their racing sessions.

Totally innovative technologies for a high-performance ensemble

In order to develop a genuinely unique product while at the same time satisfying the requirements of the most demanding PC racers, Thrustmaster’s R&D teams have decided to include a specific new motor: this brushless 40-watt motor’s responsiveness generates remarkably dynamic and powerful effects, along with skillfully optimized Force Feedback. The motor provides exceptional velocity (dynamic torque) which can be fully manifested in all racing conditions, from long stall curves (STALL mode) to super-responsive zigzags (DYNAMIC mode).

To ensure that the motor’s velocity is always available, Thrustmaster has developed an embedded cooling system: MCE*, which stands for “Motor Cooling Embedded”. This innovative piece of technology maintains the motor’s performance level during quick successions of power demands by ensuring that there is no overheating, while remaining silent. This results in 50% more dynamic response, and 4 times greater stall force compared with Thrustmaster’s other Force Feedback wheels.

Also with a view to maintaining the motor’s dynamics under all types of racing conditions, the new F.O.C. algorithm (for Field Oriented Control) boosts the precision of Thrustmaster’s H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) system providing 16-bit resolution (65,536 values), dynamically optimizing the response to intense precision demands. The motor responds dynamically and swiftly to increased torque requirements, thereby offsetting and preventing losses in terms of power.

Finally, and very importantly, an external TURBO power supply has been specially designed to provide continuous power and phenomenal peak power (400 watts), ensuring that the wheel is able to respond to high-speed and often very high-intensity commands from games. The power supply’s toroidal shape ensures optimized efficiency versus heat at 86%, thanks to its finless design.

Superior materials and a super-functional wheel design

The open wheel created for Thrustmaster’s new TS-PC Racer features a highly-realistic ergonomic design. The 6 buttons located in the central area are very easy to access, as is the 3-position rotary selector with a push function. The materials employed are in line with the product’s positioning: suede coverings for the wheel’s grips, a metal faceplate, and wheel-mounted sequential paddle shifters crafted of polished-brushed aluminum. What’s more, the wheel’s rotation angle can be adjusted between 270° and 1080°. In conjunction with the strength of the motor, these materials provide for a perfect weight/power ratio, for optimal inertia.

Fully compatible with the Thrustmaster racing product ecosystem

To allow all users to fully customize their TS-PC Racer according to their own personal preferences in terms of the type of game, driving style or vehicle used, the TS-PC Racer is fully compatible with the entire Thrustmaster racing ecosystem, including: the Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On, Ferrari Alcantara Wheel Add-On, T500 RS GT Wheel, TM Leather 28 GT Wheel Add-On…, the TH8RS and TH8A shifters, and the T3PA and T3PA-Pro pedal sets – as well as with other USB pedal sets on the market, or pedal sets equipped with a DB9 connector (via the Thrustmaster DB9 PEDALS T.RJ12 ADAPTER).

With its unique design, the TS-PC Racer features different technologies which are already major advantages individually: brought together in a single racing wheel, however, they create a truly exceptional product engineered for racers aiming for the top step of the final podium.

•    The TS-PC Racer will be available from December 5, 2016 at a suggested retail price of $499.99 (taxes included).