The latest iteration in the Gran Turismo series had been under the microscopic eye of Kazunori Yamauchi and folks for several years before it finally racked up store shelves this season. As Gran Turismo 5 drives past other titles at an ultra sonic speed, there seems to be a shift of manufacturer for its acclaimed steering wheel.
Apparently, Thrustmaster has taken over the baton from Logitech for producing the coveted accessory for the game. A teaser on the official Thrustmaster website showcases a few highlights of the T500RS wheel crafted for Gran Turismo 5. According to Engadget, the peripheral manufacturer appears to have obtained the license for developing the official GT5 steering wheel. The report also suggests that the device has been embedded with the same magnetic sensor as used for the company’s Hotas Warthog flight controller to deliver enhanced precision.
Though we’ve heard no official confirmation from the GT5 team, the grapevine indicates that the T500RS steering wheel may come with a price tag of around 500 USD (approx. Rs. 22,431). Thrustmaster is expected to disclose more information about the product at the upcoming CES 2011.