Grid Engineering is a company that has been operating in the sim-racing market for some time, but which is, for the most part, unknown to the common rider. It has to be said that its segment is rather specific, with mainly accessories such as dashboards, button panels and a few stands for its various products. Grid’s catalog also includes a steering wheel developed in partnership with Porsche: the 911 RSR.

This 911 RSR is a magnificent wheel by the way, with a huge screen in its center, very practical for endurance and GT racing. However, its selling price is high (€2250), and that doesn’t help Grid’s business too much I imagine, as it limits the number of potential customers. All manufacturers of premium sim-racing peripherals offer inexpensive entries in their catalogs. Such is the case with Simagicand Fanatec and even Simucube.

So, to boost sales, Grid had to come up with a budget-friendly solution. Say hello to the MPX, the brand-new GT-type steering wheel that costs less than its big brother, the 911 RSR. In what follows, we’ll take a look at its sim-racing credentials.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Full aluminum structure
• 5mm-thick carbon fiber faceplate
• 9 ELMA encoders, 8 APEM switches, 2 7-way switches and 8 backlit buttons (total of 87 RGB LEDs for controls)
• 4 rear paddles, 2 magnetic and 2 analog
• Height- and spacing-adjustable pallets
• QR on rear with 6×70 mm pattern
• PC-compatible via Lumberg 6-pin and USB cable
• SimHub compatible
• Diameter 29.5 cm and weight 1.7 kg
• Fully remappable controls

MPX steering wheel design

The design of the MPX is sober, I think, with a fairly rectangular shape, a carbon fiber faceplate and numerous controls on the front, all of which are backlit with something like 87 RGB LEDs for all the controls.

The rear features a universal QR hub, surrounded by 4 paddles. On the grips, Grid has used silicone as the material, which is standard for the category, and even in competition I believe.

The MPX is a beautiful, simple steering wheel that’s a perfect match for any sim-racing setup. What’s more, its big advantage over the competition in terms of design is its RGB LED buttons, which allow color customization.

Customized assembly

The MPX uses a universal hub with a 6×70 mm pattern for its QR. In the box, you’ll find a 5 cm spacer which acts as an adapter if you have a base using something other than 6×70 mm.

This hub allows the MPX to be mounted on virtually any Direct Drive base available on the market, be it Simagic, Simucube, Fanatec or even Moza. The list is long when it comes to QR compatibility, and the mounting operation is super-easy to perform for the simple reason that every hole in the spacer, and most of the hub too, are threaded. From memory, only the MPX offers this on the market today, and it’s excellent for compatibility with DD bases.

Manufacturing and finishing

The steering wheel structure is made entirely of billet aluminum, cut using CNC machines. This means that the MPX is cut from a single block of aluminum to match the shape of its structure. What’s more, numerous tests were carried out on this steering wheel using FEA 3D modeling solutions to achieve superior rigidity while minimizing weight.

A 5 mm carbon fiber plate is fitted to the faceplate to enhance the overall appearance, and keep the weight down. On the scales, the MPX weighs in at 1.7 kg, which is quite heavy for its class, but not penalizing as long as you have a good Direct Drive base.

The finish is simply exemplary. Admittedly, the MPX is a budget-friendly steering wheel from Grid, but when it was designed, the R&D budget knew no bounds, and this has given us one of the most premium steering wheels in its segment. Everything about the MPX is perfect, from the buttons to the stickers to the gaps.

Handling the steering wheel

The wheel diameter is 29.5 cm, which is just right for GT racing. It’s neither too wide, nor too small; just the right balance. As for the controls, there are 5 rotary switches on the faceplate, 2 on the grips on each side, 2 more on the thumbs, and 8 buttons on the front as well. At the rear, there are 4 paddles and 2 Otto P9 buttons on the index finger.

The MPX’s grip is very good, especially the buttons, which are very close to your fingers. Even the driving position is very good, with silicone grips that offer a very high level of grip without the need for sim-racing gloves. The only thing I can fault about this steering wheel is the lack of RevLED and display on the faceplate, and that’s understandable too, as Grid already offers this kind of sim-racing accessory in its catalog. You’re not going to compete with your own products, are you?

Sensations during play

What’s the MPX worth in sim-racing? For a start, this new Grid flywheel can be used on virtually any Direct Drive base available on the market. The best is to pair it with a base developing more than 12 nm of torque, and ideally between 14 and 16 nm to avoid clipping (the flywheel still weighs 1.7 kg).

On the track, the MPX proved very practical, especially with its remappable, backlit controls. The GT racing wheel is easy to grip, and the buttons are easy to use too. With silicone grips, you won’t really need gloves, as this material still allows hands to breathe well, but it’s better to have them, if only for the enhanced immersion.

The rear paddles are 2-axis adjustable, something I’ve rarely seen on a sim-racing steering wheel. As a result, each driver can adjust them to suit his or her preferences, and this enhances in-game sensations.

MPX compatibility

The MPX is compatible with all PC sim-racing titles currently available on Steam or any other online platform. Connection to the PC is via a Lumberg and USB cable that attaches to the steering wheel from the rear. However, nothing is said about compatibility with consoles.

As far as Direct Drive bases are concerned, the MPX hub allows compatibility with virtually all those from the big names in sim-racing, such as Fanatec, Simagic, Simucube and others. You’ll have no trouble using this steering wheel with a DD base.

Value for money

This steering wheel is currently selling for €1,100 on the Grid Engineering website, instead of the usual €1,200. Admittedly, this is expensive compared with the competition, and the wheel lacks certain features, such as a screen and RevLED, but its design, build quality and, above all, high customization make the asking price worthwhile. As far as I’m concerned, the MPX offers pretty good value for money; it’s not the best, but it’s not the worst on the market either.

My verdict on the Grid MPX steering wheel

There’s certainly no shortage of GT-type steering wheels in the segment, whether from Simucube, Simagic, Fanatec, Moza or any other sim-racing brand. But the MPX still manages to bring a few unique elements to the table, such as RGB controls, adjustable paddles, compatibility with almost all Direct Drive bases on the market, and above all, very premium build quality.

If you’re fascinated by Grid Engineering’s products, and you’re looking for a GT steering wheel without dropping a salary (I’m talking about the 911 RSR), the MPX is the perfect candidate. It’s premium, customizable, discreet and adaptable to all DD bases. I’d recommend it to any racer who can afford it.