PXN announces three all-new direct drive VD Series sim racing wheels

Budget-friendly sim racing equipment manufacturer PXN, perhaps best known for its sub $300 wheels, has expanded its range to include three new direct drive wheel bases.

Following on from its first direct drive efforts, the affordable V99 bundle and the V12 base, which is sold for just under £200 on Amazon in the UK, the VD4, VD6 and VD10 mark a step up in the marketplace.

Each uses PXN’s new – get ready for the name… – Multi-Pole Low Inertia Direct Drive Servo Motor. Catchy. Is that MPLIDDSM for short?

Anyway, title aside, the Chinese company promises ‘lag-free feedback’ (slow responses, something the prior V99 was known for) and cog-free performance. The latter is something Thrustmast and Simagic also tout with their recent wheelbases, using high-pole brushless motors to reduce the chance of unsmooth behaviour at lower speeds.

Alongside the new motor design, PXN had created a dedicated PC software suite, called ‘PC Control Center PXN SimRacing’, and there is a system to amplify car behaviour through subtle vibrations – sounding remarkably similar to Logitech’s Trueforce.

Interestingly, the VD4, VD6 and VD10 don’t output peak torque of 4Nm, 6Nm and 10Nm, respectively.

Instead, the outputs are as follows:

• CD4 – constant 4Nm and peak 5Nm
• VD6 – constant 6Nm and peak 7Nm
• VD10 – constant 10Nm and peak 12Nm

All three are compatible with PC only – PXN has not been able to certify a wheel to date with either Microsoft (Xbox) or Sony (PlayStation), but some of its existing models work on select consoles by plugging a gamepad directly into the base. PXN has not confirmed that for these new additions.

As it stands, the entry-level VD4 is only available as a bundle.

As each base has a quick release, there are three new wheel designs to go with:

• W AS Steering Wheel – 280mm
• W DS R2 Steering Wheel – 300mm
• W CS R2 Steering Wheel – 330mm

The W AS and W CS R2 are both round, while the W DS has a flat bottom. Each has a smattering of buttons, rev lights and rotaries. The W CS R2 has carbon fibre shifters, compared to the aluminium alloy of the other two.

There is also the three-edal PD HM set. Metal in construction, it uses durable (in theory) hall-effect magnetic sensors and the brake supports up to 10kg of damping force – although they are not listed as a load cell.

Pre-orders are available right now, direct from PXN, and sales begin on 8th August. UK and US pricing is listed below for some of the range, with more such expected later:

• VD4 wheel base bundle (with W AS wheel, PD HM pedals brake and thottle only) – $299
• VD6 Wheel Base – £299 / $329
• VD10 Wheel Base – £349 / $369
• W AS Steering Wheel – £119 / $139
• W DS R2 Steering Wheel – £159 / $199
• W CS R2 Steering Wheel – £249 / $279
• PD HM Pedals – £89 / $99
• VD6 bundle (with W DS R2 wheel, PD HM pedals three and desk clamp) – £432 / $439
• VD10 base and W DS R2 wheel – £432 / $499
• VD10 base and W CS R2 wheel – £483 / $539