Moza Essenza SCV12

Our rating: 9.3 /10

The sim-racing peripherals manufacturer Moza has only been on the market for a few years, but its extensive range can compete with prestigious brands. With its top-of-the-range Direct Drive bases, magnificent steering wheels and, above all, the right sensations, it’s clear that Moza Racing is a viable sim-racing option these days.

Like all good manufacturers of virtual peripherals, Moza collaborates with brands known for their road cars, as well as those on the track. Currently, Porsche and Lamborghini are two brands that have worked with Moza to develop official replica steering wheels.

These steering wheels are specific to non-road-legal racing cars. And just as Lambos and Porsches are made to give you maximum track feel, Moza’s steering wheels, when coupled with high-performance DD bases, do the same. TheEssenza SCV12 is a wheel recently released by the firm, and it just happens to be on our setup. In what follows, we’ll talk about it and see what it has to offer compared to its other Moza sisters.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Aluminum alloy steering wheel structure
• Carbon fiber faceplate
• 2 mechanical rear paddles
• Suede leather handle
• 4.3-inch touchscreen with 800×480 pixel resolution
• 8 buttons, 4 encoders and 4 rotary switches
• RevLED on top of front panel
• Compatible with all Moza bases thanks to QR derived from D1-Spec
• Pit House compatible
• Weight 1.95 kg
• 31 cm diameter

Design

Not surprisingly, the design of the Essenza SCV12 is identical to the wheel found on the Lamborghini of the same name. This is a non-road-approved car, produced in only 40 examples and powered by a V12 with over 800 hp.

The Moza Essenza SCV12 is identical in design to the Lamborghini steering wheel, with a carbon-fiber faceplate and aluminum-alloy structure. The front panel is dotted with controls, including buttons, switches and encoders, with a large 4.3-inch diagonal display in the center that is touch-sensitive and in color.

The grips are made of well-crafted suede leather, ensuring grip when cornering. Visually, the steering wheel is very square, and beautiful too. The colors are flashy, as you’d expect from an official replica wheel. Through the floating grips, you can see the 2 aluminum paddles at the rear, with the famous “+” and “-“. The Moza Essenza SCV12 is a very handsome steering wheel, a little too square, but a real eye-catcher.

Customized assembly

Moza’s new QR – well, not really new at all – is standard on the brand’s entire range of sim-racing devices. It’s based on the D1-Spec, with a very solid mounting system.

To install the flywheel, simply pull on the ring, place the wheel on the QR Base Side, and release the ring. It’s very solid once in place, and you won’t have any play on the drive shaft. This QR is shared between Moza and Simagic, even though both brands offer it with slightly different designs. But they’re basically the same.

Manufacturing and finishing

As with all Moza Racing steering wheels, the Essenza SCV12 is based on an aluminum alloy structure, with a carbon fiber faceplate. Of course, the build quality is worthy of supercar brands like Lamborghini.

The materials are noble, even if I’d honestly have preferred to see the entire structure in carbon fiber. The build quality is just flawless, and it shows all over the steering wheel.

The handles are covered in suede leather, with black stitching on the inside. They’re very attractive, with great attention to detail. What’s more, the grips are floating, i.e. without central spokes, which makes for a more pleasant grip. The Essenza SCV12 is a racing-style steering wheel, and as the English say, “Means business”.

Handling the steering wheel

Before getting into ergonomics, I should inform you that the Essenza SCV12 is a rather large wheel in depth. This means that the driving position is much closer than with other Moza wheels. The distance between the faceplate and the QR is 16 – 17 cm, which is frankly big, and will impact your driving position. So plan on a highly adaptable cockpit to correct this.

Let’s move on to the grip. The diameter of the wheel is 31 cm, which is perfect for ergonomics as far as I’m concerned. The flat, rectangular shape of the steering wheel provides quick access to all the Essenza SCV12’s controls. Between buttons, switches, encoders and paddles, everything falls perfectly under your fingers. Even the display is easy to read, not to mention touch-sensitive.

However, I did notice one thing about this steering wheel: the paddles are mechanical, not magnetic. The reason is that Moza wanted an identical replica of the Lamborghini steering wheel of the same name, and this one doesn’t use magnetic sensors. On the race track, the feeling is good, but it lacks a little in responsiveness, according to my tests. And I can’t yet comment on the longevity of the mechanical sensor.

Sensations during play

We now turn to the sensations provided by Moza Racing’s Essenza SCV12. First of all, it’s a flywheel that weighs a bit (around 2 kilos), so it needs to be coupled to a base that develops decent torque. For my tests, I used a Moza R12, which I consider to be just the right balance between performance and feel.

I’ve already mentioned it, but the Essenza SCV12 is a steering wheel that feels superb in the hand, with ergonomics worthy of Supercar wheels, or, in this case, a Hypercar signed by the Taurus brand that is produced in just 40 examples, as well as being homologated for track use only.

The Suede leather handles offer excellent grip, even if you don’t have sim-racing gloves. All controls are easily accessible on the fly, without too much effort on your part. As for the display, it proved very useful during the race, displaying telemetry data vital to the vehicle.

The only small drawback I noticed, or rather felt, on the Essenza SCV12 is the paddles. Firstly, there are only 2 of them at the rear, which frankly limits their use to a few racing disciplines. Secondly, the sensor is mechanical, not magnetic. To be honest, the feeling is good when you shift gears. But a mechanical sensor isn’t as precise as a magnetic one, and less durable too, which is frankly not flattering for a steering wheel that literally costs an arm and a leg. In Moza’s defense, the brand wanted authenticity, and the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 doesn’t use magnetic sensors for its paddles. So…

Compatibility

Unsurprisingly, the Essenza SCV12 uses Moza’s revised QR, giving it native compatibility with all the DD bases offered by the brand. As far as sim-racing titles are concerned, you should know that the Lamborghini on which this wheel is based is not yet available to drive, but the wheel will be recognized by all racing games.

Value for money

Well then. How to express the value for money of the Essenza SCV12, especially when you see that it retails for €1400. This isn’t the first steering wheel to be a One-Off. Fanatec has done it too, but Moza’s approach is a little hard to justify, even if the materials used are noble.

My verdict

Clearly, Moza’s Essenza SCV12 is an ultra-premium steering wheel, which will be acquired by an elitist public with the financial means and, above all, the sim-racing passion. Will it sell like hotcakes? I doubt it, and even Moza seems to be of the same opinion, as I read one of their comments about the possibility of other stickers if the wheel is adopted by the masses.

Nevertheless, it’s still a Lamborghini steering wheel, and that’s enough to recommend it to those who can afford to buy it, if you agree with having only 2 rear paddles.