Could the Asetek Invicta Wheelbase 27Nm set a new benchmark in the world of high-end simracing? Let’s face it, few brands have the luxury of really shining in this category. For the past 5 years, when we thought of high-end Direct Drive, the only two “mainstream ” offerings were the Fanatec DD2 and the Simucube 2 Pro and Ultimate.
Since 2020, the offer has certainly diversified, with VRS and Simagic for example, but all the other brands have been content to fight it out in the entry and mid-range ranges, with no one brand really coming out on top. And on top of that, these top-of-the-range engines have never been renowned for their ease of handling. Enough to discourage the beginner simracer allergic to “setup days”.
Asetek sees things differently. They’ ve been working on their Direct Drive bases for over 2 years now, and their ambition is to take them straight to the top of their game. All this while offering a model that’s as plug and play and open to third-party products as possible. Expectations are high, not only on the part of the community, but also on our side. After visiting the Asetek factory, the promise was enormous: to offer the best hardware and the best software, all at the lowest possible price. Was it a success? Let’s find out in this comprehensive Invicta base test!
How does the Asetek Invicta base stand up technically?
| Compatibility | PC |
| Dimensions Weight | Length 32.7cm, Width 13.2cm, Height 13.3cm 11.3 Kg |
| Motor | Direct Drive – True Servo MiGE |
| Torque | Peak: 27Nm Continuous: 26Nm over 40sec, 24Nm over 140sec and 18Nm beyond that Slew Rate: 9 to 9.4 Nm/ms |
| Encoder | 22bits (4M points per wheel revolution) |
| Turning range | 180° to 1440° Adjustable via RaceHub software |
| Connections | 1 USB-C output to PC 1 power supply 5 USB-C for connecting other peripherals 1 Connection for ON/OFF button 1 connection for torque cutter |
| Wheel attachment | Asetek Quick Release based on Simucube model (license purchase) |
Design and ergonomics
Once you’ve unpacked the contents of the box, discovered the imposing power supply and lifted the 11kg base, you can take your first look at the machine.
The first thing you notice is that its design is not necessarily to everyone’s taste. Asetek’s aim with their entire range of Direct Drive bases has been to create a distinctive, recognizable identity.
And as far as recognizability goes, they’ve succeeded! And while I personally appreciate the base’s curves, I’ve already had occasion to note in the comments to our latest videos that not everyone does. In any case, this is far from a base that looks like all the others!
- In the box :
- Asetek Invicta base
- Power supply unit
- 3 plugs for different geographical zones
- 1 USB / USB-C cable
- 1 remote ON/OFF button
- 1 remote Torque Cut button
- Stickers board
- QR code for online instructions
The Invicta Wheelbase has an aluminum body covered with 2 RGB stripes on the top and 2 RGB stripes on each side. The front and rear panels are made of plastic, but fit the body to the millimetre. In terms of dimensions, the base is 32.7cm long (including QR), 13.2cm wide and 13.3cm high.
At the front, the Quick Release is mounted on the steering shaft. More on this in a moment. And finally, at the rear, all the base’s connectors, including the power supply, the PC connection, 5 USB-C ports for connecting accessories and, last but not least, the two sockets for the ON/OFF button and the Couple Cutter.
The Asetek SimSports team decided not to place the buttons directly on the base, but in separate boxes. There are several reasons for this. With separate buttons, if a button proves defective, it can be replaced very easily, without having to send the base back to the after-sales service.
And above all, these buttons can be placed wherever you want for easy access. This is particularly important for the Torque Cut button, because with a maximum torque of 27Nm, you need to be able to disable your machine at any time in the event of a problem, for your own safety.
Top-quality components
But it’s not just the exterior that’s important, it’s the interior where the real work begins. A MiGE (Servo Engine) motor delivers 27Nm of torque. The encoder is a 22Bit, giving us no less than 4M reference points per wheel revolution, as many as Simucube. From the outset, this makes the 57x more precise than the best-selling consumer models on the market. And of course, to make the most of this power and precision, the base’s responsiveness is at the top of its game, with a torque rise from 9 to 9.4Nm per millisecond. That’s a peak torque rise of 27Nm in less than 3ms. Never seen before.
So you can imagine that, with a specification sheet like this, all I want to do is go for a drive! Without further ado, let’s install the Asetek Invicta Wheelbase on the chassis.
Installing the Asetek Invicta DD base on the chassis
Well, for the 2-3 people who are wondering, yes, chassis mandatory, of course. I’d even go so far as to say it’s a very rigid chassis. And when it comes to installation, you’ve got quite a few options to choose from. You can use the 4 T-nuts on rails below the base, spaced 8.7cm apart. In this case, you’ll need 4 M6 screws (not supplied in our box). Or you can choose one of the many mounting options available on the Asetek website:
- Bottom mounting plate.
- Front mounting plate.
- Front mounting with tilt adjustment.
- Bottom mounting with tilt.
Personally, I chose to use the bottom-mounting plate to avoid having to drill the support plate of my chassis, which had no hole corresponding to a spacing of 8.7cm. This also enabled me to easily install my remote buttons.
RaceHub settings
Now that the Invicta base has been installed and connected, it’s time for calibration and force feedback settings. Everything takes place on the RaceHub software, which has been updated to V2 for the occasion. The settings are fairly straightforward, but I think it’s worth taking the time to explain them properly. You can find them in the Invicta base test video (at the top of the page) or, from Wednesday, in a dedicated article here.
In addition to the FFB settings, it’s also on the RaceHub that I’ll be adjusting the colors and intensity of the RGB bands, which can be deactivated for those who don’t want ambient lighting. As well as the base’s security options, which are there to protect your precious fingers.
See also: FFB settings tutorial on RaceHub!
The Asetek Quick Release
Before some of you start shouting “copycat” when you see this Quick Release, a quick reminder is in order. In 2020 Asetek wrote a huge check to Granite Device, the company that owns the Simucube brand. In return for Asetek’s €6.8 million, Granite Device provided the Quick Release license, consulting, technical drawings and software. So it’s hardly surprising that the Asetek QR bears a striking resemblance to the Simucube model, since it’s an evolution of the latter.
The steering wheel slides in from above, and a clip locks the QR in place. To remove the steering wheel, simply press the lever to release the clip and slide the wheel upwards.
At the bottom of the QR are the 6 connection pins between the steering wheel and the base. These 6 pins provide power to the steering wheel, as well as information transfer, since Asetek has chosen not to use a Wifi or Vlan module in its base.
Another aspect of this QR is safety. After 50Kg of pressure, the lever automatically releases to prevent the steering wheel from injuring you.
Comfort and sensations: a slap in the face
During the 3 intensive weeks of testing that preceded our review, we had the opportunity to test the Invicta base on iRacing, Assetto Corsa, AC Competizione, RaceRoom, rFactor 2, BeamNG, Dirt 2.0, WRC Generations and F1 2020 (yes, I know it’s old, but I refuse to pay for Formula One again).
If I had to sum up my first impressions in one word, it would be: Power. 27Nm, that can be very precise and pleasant if it’s well tuned, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t do anything. And for my first few laps around the wheel, I wanted to play it smart by switching the base to full power and pushing the game’s FFB to 50%. As a result, I nearly ruined a wrist. So don’t be as stupid as I was and start with a fairly low in-game setting, then gradually increase it until you find the range of use that suits you in terms of strength and feel.
Once you’ve got it right… A real treat. I’ve been asked what’s the point of the 27Nm if you’re only using 30 or 35% FFB in play. The truth is that it allows you to obtain force feedback details and responsiveness impossible to achieve on smaller bases. And for me, this quickly translated into greater confidence on the track and the ability to catch the vehicle in situations where I would normally have lost control of it.
Bye bye clipping
With this kind of power, there’s another aspect that completely disappears from your simracer’s life: clipping. Clipping is when your base’s force feedback becomes saturated and is no longer capable of transmitting details, but only brute force. On low-power bases, this is a recurring problem, easily observed in long, fast turns.
If you’re looking for clipping, why not take an Indycar base of less than 15Nm for a spin on rFactor 2? You’ll soon see the limits of your base 😉
One of the many advantages of having a torque higher than 15/20Nm is to say goodbye to clipping for good. Of course, you’ll still be able to trigger clipping if you set your game’s FFB to 100%, but with 27Nm it’s probably your arms that will give out first.
Who would I recommend the Asetek Invicta Wheelbase Direct Drive to?
This top-of-the-range wheelbase has a lot going for it, both in terms of its technical specifications and its performance in terms of feel. But I’d only recommend it to very serious and passionate players with solid finances. Make no mistake about it, 27Nm can be violent, and injuries can quickly occur if you’re not careful. You need to handle this power with care and set your force feedback correctly, which is not usually a priority for new players… On the other hand, if you’re looking for top-of-the-range hardware with easy third-party compatibility and easy-to-use, comprehensive software, then yes, the Invicta can meet your expectations.
Compatibility with other brands
As you may have noticed, the Asetek ecosystem is not yet fully developed. This is to be expected, as the brand has only just arrived. To overcome this problem, the Danes have come up with a very good idea: to partner with steering wheel manufacturers. As a result, you can natively install the steering wheels of 7 other brands directly on your Asetek base.
Other brands are in the process of being signed, so the list will grow over time.
- Ascher Racing
- Bavarian Simtech
- Cube Controls
- GSI (Gomez Sim Industries)
- Rexing
- Simcore
- VPG Sim
What we thought of the Asetek Invicta Direct Drive baseplate
Sam
I have always dreamed of becoming an F1 driver or an ocean liner captain. Eventually I bought a PC and started simracing. I regularly discover simracing equipment and experiences to share with you on the blog!
