GDC08: Logitech unveils Gran Turismo wheel

by James Ransom-Wiley { Feb 20th 2008 at 12:56PM }

Want the perfect prologue to sim racing's most-distinguished brand? Tack another $150 onto that $40 download, as Logitech has unveiled the official, and pricey Driving Force GT racing wheel. Engineered specifically for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (but compatible with GT4 and GT5 on PS2), the Driving Force features requisite force feedback, plus a new 24-position realtime adjustment dial (see -- it's red!), so you can fine-tune the brake bias, traction control and damper settings on-the-fly. Brake bias? Damper settings? Just point us to the boost button!

The Driving Force GT wheel is "expected" to ship in May.

Gallery: Logitech Driving Force GT Wheel

Tags: breakingnews, gran-turismo, gran-turismo-5, gran-turismo-5-prologue, gt5, logitech, logitech-driving-force-gt, polyphony-digital, racing-wheel

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

capt_carl @ Feb 20th 2008 1:05PM

If I was more hardcore into driving sims I'd buy this faster then someone proclaims "LOLForzaiswin!"

Seriously though, that is one hot steering wheel.

Negativecool @ Feb 20th 2008 1:06PM

"...GT4 and GT5 on PS2"

Ugh...huh?

Gerwurztraminer @ Feb 20th 2008 2:04PM

that's what I thought

Ericj @ Feb 20th 2008 1:07PM

looks amazing!

Negativecool @ Feb 20th 2008 1:08PM

I want it to have a scrolling red light and I want the wheel's name to be "Kit", and I want it to talk to me.

Won't someone please make it so?

FOXHOUND @ Feb 20th 2008 1:11PM

Sure, it's probably *only* for GT4 and GT5...
And let's not forget its price(plus the game)...
And maybe the resale value won't be there...

...but you gotta admit(yes, even to the haters out there); for a console wheel, that's pretty slick lookin'. At least with the supposed release date of May, I could save a $1.50 a day for one until then. LoL

Instead of feeding starving children, donating to charity, or buying something else. :d Yeah, I'm selfish. So there.

XanthouS @ Feb 20th 2008 1:12PM

It's pretty cool that there are enough hardcore racing sim fans out there to warrant Logitech creating a new GT wheel just about every time a game releases.

Esat @ Feb 20th 2008 1:16PM

That red wheel offends my retinas.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 1:20PM

Looks nice. I like all the controls available. They are sorely missed on my G25.

But at a "mere" $150, I wonder if it provides the level of quality of the G25. It's missing a clutch for starters and the pedals aren't metal.

To those above who wonder, the Logitech Gran Turismo wheels have traditionally been useable in other racing games too, both on the PS platform and on a PC (the magic of USB).

A Gupta @ Feb 20th 2008 1:24PM

Man, what about a clutch pedal and wireless? 'Til then I'll stick with my Driving Force Pro (still 900 degree rotation) but that red wheel sounds like a sweet trick...

paragraph @ Feb 20th 2008 1:25PM

DOES NOT WANT!

:\

Wires for the pedals? Thats so 1987. The damn this is probably allready Bluetooth for PS3 (if not, take it out back and shoot it) why not just add that functionality between the pedals and wheel...

Also: it looks like it's made of cheap plastic...

AlsoII (return of the also): i agree with esat, my retinas are offended by the ugly as sin dial-o-matic

Oh, and there will be copatability issues, it seems this isn't compatable with the 360... a major oversight... -_-

:\

Colour me unimpressed... looks like 99.9% of all wheels out there...

fwacce @ Feb 20th 2008 1:41PM

No, colour you a MS fanboy.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 1:52PM

Compatibility issues? Given I can use my G25 with GT3 and GT4 and it isn't even a Sony-licensed steering wheel, why would you go off and assume there will be compatibility issues?

I don't care about wireless, it just doesn't come into play in my setup. It's not like removing the wire to the console will make it wireless anyway, you have to plug it into the wall to get enough power for force feedback.

paragraph @ Feb 20th 2008 2:05PM

z0mfg i r luv t3h sechs wit mai xbochs tree-sitty...

-_-

@fwacce

Name one feature on this that isn't on the vast majority of other wheels... the GT logo? does that warrent a $150 pricetag?

@why not...

*glare*

did you even read my comment

also: it was a joke

I still maintain the biggest problem with the PS3 is that it isn't a 360... to paraphrase off of Gameinformer's Review of Jenga for the Wii "I have never seen something so designed around a single mechanic, and yet have that single mechanic fail nearly each and every time."

When there are decent games that i can ONLY get on the PS3, then i might revise*, but until then the PS3 is nothing more than a BD Player that can play a small selection of sorta-ok-decent games.

*This is probably be around the time Resistance 2 comes out ;)

I mean no hate here, and i'm not a fanboy... last gen i was all about the PS2... because the Xbox wasn't really all that great until MS got better games... see how it works... i like the system with the good games... isn't that strange...

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 20th 2008 2:15PM

Well, if it's anything like the last wheel, the thing it has other wheels doesn't have is quality.

The GT4 wheel is an excellent wheel, it works great and is sturdy. And it also cost $150 at launch and sold well.

This is an interesting contrast to the MS Wireless Racing Wheel which is wireless, but isn't well made, doesn't work well and also cost $150.

So apparently $150 is the going rate for a force feedback wheel, so I don't think they'll have much trouble selling this one (well, other than the fact that GT5P isn't even a full game).

Jeff @ Feb 20th 2008 1:45PM

I would have liked to see a clutch pedal... But hey with the adjustment knob and all it is going to be about the best wheel out there for GT. I bet I pick one up the first day they are at retail.

kbomb1upc @ Feb 20th 2008 2:17PM

In the words of the great Paris Hilton..."Thats Hot"

Michael @ Feb 20th 2008 3:31PM

no clutch? WTF?

Iridium @ Feb 20th 2008 3:49PM

I really don't get the tuning dial, just a "next gen" feature to warrant the price over the GT4 Wheel I guess. Overall the unit looks like it is just a modified GT4 wheel, even has the same pedals. If they take the GT4 off the market it will be your only option, still a good one.

I paid $129 for my GT4 wheel and do not regret it. To anyone that thinks it is cheaply made, think again. The thing is rock solid and feels exactly like a smaller diameter wheel straight from a real car. The thing dropped about 10 feet from the top of my closet shelf and still works fine. The only thing that pisses me off is that a lot of games only support 180 degrees of rotation.

Iridium @ Feb 20th 2008 3:53PM

considering that almost every high end sports car and supercar on the planet have been clutchless for the past few years I don't really see much of a loss. Even the EVO X and STi are clutchless now.

Bgrngod @ Feb 20th 2008 4:05PM

Sorry, but the G25 kicks this thing in the pedals.

No pedal shifters. A "stick" that is basically a sport shifter. 2 pedals instead of 3, and plastic at that.

But hay, at least it has a Gran Turismo logo and a few Playstation buttons on it! That's a selling feature isn't it? Right?

Sony probably just wanted something that would be competitive with the MS Wireless wheel. I wonder if this one goes up in flames as well?

breachless @ Feb 20th 2008 4:14PM

Hmm... When GT5, the full version hits, I am in. I love my Microsoft Wheel with Forza 2 (which, contrary to what dude says above, seems to be well-made, and it also happens to play phenomenally with Forza 2), so buying a good one for Gran Turismo will be well worth it as well.

Also, the MS Steering Wheel for the 360 dropped to $99 awhile ago. Just an FYI...

Diskoboy @ Feb 20th 2008 5:08PM

I agree... the G25 pwns this thing.

Dooley @ Feb 21st 2008 2:29AM

This thing is pathetic.
While I understand plastic instead of metal in order to drop the price, the shifter is sad.

Also, the Evo X isn't completely clutchless. It has a clutchless option where you have both tiptronic AND paddle shift at the same time.

Anyhow, I'm sorely disappointed in this set up. I expected more at this point from the designers behind gaming peripherals!
Come on people, use some sense! Modular construction with seperate components that we can purchase and add in!
If GT5 already supports a shifter, why build one in!?
Why not make it detachable from the main unit while staying wired. Meaning the shifter could be a seperate pod that clips into place or a seperate pod you mount seperately!

What a concept... this thing isn't 'competitive'... it's a redux of seven year old technology.

Yeesh...