The sim-racing peripherals manufacturer Simucube is world-renowned for its high-quality products and technological innovations that blur the boundary between reality and the virtual world. It’s not for nothing that Simucube is the leading supplier of simulators to motorsport teams, for the simple reason that when it comes to immersion at a professional level, you can’t do better than this Finnish brand.

Its catalog of sim-racing peripherals includes 3 Direct Drive bases, steering wheels, a number of accessories and an active pedalboard powered by an electric motor. This pedalboard, well, this pedal, is a technological jewel, able to be used as brake, clutch and gas pedal all at once, considerably enhancing sim-racing immersion.

Called ActivePedal, this crankset is a real innovation in the segment, and as yet, there’s no competitor to rival it. The ActivePedal’s operating principle is pretty simple: you have an electric motor that handles all the feedback, coupled with software for control. It’s like a basic Direct Drive, but on a different level. And if you’re reading this right now, you’re probably wondering about the value of Simucube’s ActivePedal, and that’s what we’re going to find out.

Main features and technical specifications of the crankset

• Crankset available in several configurations
• Max. braking pressure 170 kg
• Active pedal weighs 6 kg
• Dimensions 100mm x 250mm x 402mm
• Can be used for brake, clutch and gas pedal depending on configuration
• Simulation of ABS feedback, gas pedal feedback, engine speed, car forces, etc.
• Full metal structure
• Pedal adjustment via software
• Compatible with PC and Simucube products

Pedal design

The ActivePedal is quite unlike any other crankset on the market. In this test, I’m only going to focus on the active pedal, i.e. the brake pedal. However, you can also use the ActivePedal for the clutch and gas pedal, with a different feel depending on the application. But what interests us most is the brake.

So, the ActivePedal design. As I just said, it doesn’t look like a standard pedalboard. We have an all-black box, with orange lines and the brand logo. Those with a keen eye will notice that the front of the pedal is very similar to the Simucube 2 Pro or 2 Sport base, at least in shape.

The pedal itself is fairly standard, with a “Y”-shaped mounting system and an orange arm. It’s nice, but it’s big, and it certainly won’t go unnoticed on your setup.

Customized assembly

With Simucube, you can mount the ActivePedal directly on a chassis, using the 6 fixing points at the bottom of the base.

However, Simucube also provides you with a bracket to attach the pedals, and then mount the whole thing on a cockpit. This support is very solid and modular, but has the disadvantage of being delivered disassembled, and is made up of several parts. It’s a time-consuming operation, but it’s highly customizable, adaptable to all chassis.

Manufacturing and finishing

When you take the ActivePedal in your hands, the first thing you’ll notice is its 6-kilo weight. For the record, it’s very heavy, but premium, very much so. The housing is made entirely of metal, and you wouldn’t expect anything less from Simucube. This is a high-end manufacturer that offers quality peripherals.

Apart from a few plastic connectors, this cheap material is not an integral part of the ActivePedal, as it could compromise its structure and solidity. As a result, there’s nothing but metal on this Simucube pedal, and it’s magnificent.

Build quality is on a par with the brand’s other products, in other words: beyond reproach. And the same goes for the finish, which is just right, free of any flaws. Whether it’s CNC cutting, painting or assembly, everything about the ActivePedal is perfect.

Bottom bracket adjustment

As Simucube’s active pedal is motorized, all settings are made by software, just like on a Direct Drive base. The software offered by the brand is very comprehensive, even too much so in some cases. Apart from mounting the ActivePedal on your chassis, you won’t need any tools to adjust this pedal. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, this is the only sim-racing pedal in the world where you won’t have to compromise on driving position, as it adapts to your needs and preferences down to the millimetre.

Absolutely everything can be set on the ActivePedal, from the distance of your foot to pedal resistance, deadzone and friction, you’ll find what you’re looking for if you put the time in with Simucube’s software. And you’ve even got the ABS settings, which exploit the title’s telemetry data to simulate wheel lock-up, and that’s pure joy of detail.

Sensations during play

Once the brake pedal had been correctly adjusted to my preferences, it was time to go and titillate the track and see what it had to offer. My first impression of the ActivePedal was how little time it took me to get my bearings. Usually, it takes me several laps and, above all, a lot of physical adjustment of the brake pedal to find the feedback I need. With the ActivePedal, just 2 laps or so were enough to feel comfortable.

In terms of feedback, it’s ultra-realistic, far better than any other crankset I’ve tested in recent years. To put it simply: you’ll feel absolutely everything on the brake pedal, and it’s pure bliss, as well as being ultra-immersive. I was worried that the electric motor might be too noisy or interfere with the feel, but apart from a slight, unobtrusive noise, the feel is very natural on the foot, just like on a hydraulic pedal.

Another thing I really like about ActivePedal is the ABS. Technically speaking, sim-racing titles don’t yet support it for feedback, apart from haptic feedback. But Simucube has found a solution by exploiting telemetry data and applying a specific algorithm to make the entire pedal vibrate when the wheels lock. The result: an extra layer of realism, allowing you to improve lap after lap, greatly limiting ABS intervention or wheel lock-up.

This active pedal is honestly the best on the market.

Crankset compatibility

Compatible only with the Windows PC platform, Simucube’s ActivePedal will make many runners happy, except those on consoles. You don’t necessarily need the whole Simucube ecosystem to use this pedal, but it’s still a significant plus.

Value for money

Depending on the number of ActivePedals you want in your setup, expect to pay between €2250 and almost €6700 for a set of 3 pedals. This is considerably more expensive than a complete sim-racing setup including chassis, bucket and high-end peripherals. Even if you decide to make do with just the brake pedal, the bill will be steep, to say the least, giving this exceptional Simucube pedal a disadvantageous price-performance ratio.

My verdict on Simucube’s Active Pedals

If you’re a professional racer with a very large setup budget, there’s not much more I can tell you about this active pedal, other than don’t wait any longer to take the plunge. It’s simple: you won’t find anything better on the market, except perhaps on a well-tuned sports car, and above all a fairly custom car with race-specific aftermarket parts.

If you’re an average rider, it’s hard for me to suggest this active pedal, as its price is stratospheric, even if the sensations are proportionally excellent compared to other products on the market. And the price isn’t likely to come down, at least not until other sim-racing brands race to bring out a competitor.

Simucube’s ActivePedal is still a divine fruit to be eaten, but too high up in the tree for the average rider.