We had the honor of spending 15 minutes with Thomas Jackermeier, CEO of Fanatec. The opportunity to ask him a few questions about the new Fanatec CS DD bases he has just presented at ADAC Simexpo 2023. New force feedback management, aggressive pricing, constant torque… What if the Germans were finally ready to slap some competitors in the face?
Fanatec CS DD
Fanatec CS DD
What can we expect with the Fanatec CS DD and CS DD bases?
We had the CSL DD bases with torques of 5 and 8 Nm and we had the Podium bases at 20 and 25Nm. Obviously there was something missing between the two, which will be filled by the Direct Drive ClubSport
which is 12m and the CS DD which is 15Nm. I think this is exactly the force that 80 or 90% of simracers want for their force feedback. So we’ve got enough torque, but that’s not all!
We’re also going to use a completely new technology called FullForce. It’s a new force feedback protocol, because the one we’ve been using until now was developed for belt-and-gear bases maybe twenty years ago. And now for the new direct drive bases, which are capable of transmitting much finer movements, we’re going to push things even further thanks to our new Fullforce protocol, which really delivers the finest details.
Off-camera, Thomas tells me that the vibrations the motor is now capable of producing mean that the DDcan literally play music. I already mentioned this in the article presenting the two new bases, which you can (re)discover here.
Why did you choose a Brushless Servo Motor again?
Well, I don’t know. You got me on that one! We designed this motor in Germany, and it was made specifically for our use. We’re using the same technology as on the CSL DD because its efficiency is high, but also the temperature control is perfect.
But also with the 12Nm or 15Nm the difference we offer compared to other models on the market is that we’re talking in constant torque. Even if our base heats up, performance doesn’t drop, and torque remains identical. This means that from the first turn to the last, you feel exactly the same! And that’s vital if you want to learn and get used to the feel of a car. There’s no overheating. We’ve been running bases 24/7 for literally months at full power with no worries, so that’s more than enough for simracing.
How much will these bases cost?
The PC and Xbox-compatible CS DD 12Nm is priced at €699. And the CS DD with 15Nm and PlayStation compatibility is €999. Our aim is to bring you high-quality, cutting-edge technology at a reasonable price.
And will these bases be delivered with the new QR2s?
Yes, directly with the QR2, and you really need the QR2 to use FullForce technology. The FullForce system with the old QR1 doesn’t really make sense, because fine details are lost.
When will we be able to order the Fanatec CS DD and CS DD bases?
All the products you see should be out this year. It’s not too far away! Whether it’s the Bentley steering wheel,
the Hub Rally Podium, the Formula chassis… We’re going to launch them all for the Q4 in 2023. Then there’s the CS DD and CS DD, and there are other things on the way that we’re not showing today, but which are coming too. We were silent for a while, but now we’re sending it out!
How do you find inspiration for new products?
I’ ve been running this business for 26 years and today I’m still doing exactly what I was doing 26 years ago. I sit in the simulator and ask “what do I want as a pilot”? And after that, the good thing is that I don’t have to keep it in my dreams. I tell my teams “Hey! Let’s do this and that”. And as luck would have it, my taste in products is also appreciated by others, so that’s how it works.
The products you see here are products I wanted for myself. We look at what the competition is doing, but in fact there’s not much that other companies are offering that we haven’t already studied or at least thought of.
A new pedalboard coming soon? I know everyone’s been harping on it!
I can’t tell you how much I’d love a Podium pedalset! I’ve been talking about it and thinking about it for years and years… Because the thing is, there are so many great pedalsets out there already. I loved the idea of Simucube’s Actives pedals or the Heusinkveld pedals for example, so yes, there are some very good pedalsets on the market but… If we want to get into this market, we don’t want to arrive and do the same thing as everyone else, and we’ve got some pretty cool ideas that we’re in the process of turning into reality, but it won’t be for 2023.
Thanks to Thomas Jackermeier!
I’m sure that many simracers are delighted to see that the German leader is back on track. They’re getting ready to strike, and you know them when they strike, it usually makes a lot of noise! So we can’t wait to test out these new Fanatec CS DD bases and give you our thoughts on the new Fullforce protocol. In the meantime, we’ll be happy to meet you in the comments to discuss these new features 🙂
Fanatec CS DD
