When leading sim racing hardware manufacturer Fanatec announced the CSL Pedals last month and the CSL DD wheel base in April, the interest frothed at the mouth.
We know because they were among the most read articles on Traxion.GG so far. Never before had direct drive wheel and load cell pedal technology been more attainable. Not only are they more affordable than previous iterations, they are more compact and there’s even an optional desk clamp for those without the space required for a full cockpit.
We were left with a few questions after the initial reveal, however, but Fanatec CEO Thomas Jackermeier and the Fanatec blog have now updated us on pricing and availability.
Starting with the Fanatec CSL DD wheel base, we knew that the price was $349.95 (excl. VAT)/€349.95 (inc. VAT), but that is with the standard power supply delivering 5 Nm of twist.
The optional Boost Kit 180 now has a price of $149.95 (excl. VAT)/€149.95 (inc. VAT). Alternatively, you can buy a package with the CSL DD and Boost Kit 180 bundled together for $479.95 (excl. VAT)/€479.95 EUR (inc. VAT).
The optional CSL DD Table Clamp is priced at a reasonable $29.95 (excl. VAT)/€29.95 (inc. VAT), while one year of additional warranty coverage will cost $49.95 (excl. VAT)/€49.95 (inc. VAT).
Moving on to the CSL Pedals, we already knew they would be $79.95 (excl. VAT) /€79.95 (inc. VAT), but the optional upgrades were without further details – until now.
The CSL Pedals Clutch Kit, which adds a third pedal, is priced at $39.95 (excl. VAT) /€39.95 (inc. VAT). However, at this time, there is no word on the pricing or availability of the CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit or CSL Tuning Kit. Fanatec promises that the Load Cell Kit will be sub €200.
That’s a lot of prices, so here’s a list.
- Fanatec CSL DD wheel base – $349.95 (excl. VAT)/€349.95 (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec Boost Kit 180 – $149.95 (excl. VAT)/€149.95 (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec CSL DD and Boost Kit 180 bundle – $479.95 (excl. VAT)/€479.95 EUR (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec CSL DD Table Clamp – $29.95 (excl. VAT)/€29.95 (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec CSL DD extra year warranty coverage – $49.95 (excl. VAT)/€49.95 (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec CSL Pedals – $79.95 (excl. VAT) /€79.95 (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec CSL Pedals Clutch Kit – $39.95 (excl. VAT) /€39.95 (inc. VAT)
- Fanatec – CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit – TBC
- Fanatec – CSL Tuning Kit – TBC
In essence, this new setup replaces the existing belt-driven ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5, which has now ceased production. Good news for PlayStation users too, while these new products will not work with the PS4 or PS5, Thomas confirmed; “there will be PlayStation compatible DDs in the works.”
Availability will be tricky for the new CSL range, with pre-orders happening across three waves and there is only one unit available per customer. We’ve detailed the roll-out below, of which the first wave will be happening this week, so keep your eyes peeled for second and third wave dates soon.
First wave
- Must use an existing Fanatec account with previous order history
- Must be subscribed to the Fanatec newsletter
- One unit per customer
Second wave
- Must have a Fanatec account
- Must be subscribed to updates through newstandardd.fanatec.com
- One unit per customer
Third wave
- Available on the website for everyone
- One unit per customer
This reminds us of trying to order a top-spec Porsche 911 GT2 RS. Not that we’ve ever ordered one, of course, but you can’t just walk into your local Porsche dealership and purchase one, even if you have the funds.
You need to have a prior order history with previous Porsches. Want the latest special edition? Better get buying some Taycans and Cayennes too. For the first wave of CSL DD orders, prior history with the company will be taken into account.
So, to recap. A new, more affordable, direct drive wheel base and some nice new pedals are coming soon from Fanatec. There’s no estimate delivery dates yet, and we await with baited breath about the Load Cell Kit for the CSL Pedals, but either way, 2021 is set to be a ripper year for the German peripherals company.
