Thrustmaster has officially announced the full specs and price for its T500RS steering wheel and pedal set. It’s the official driving simulator for Gran Turismo 5, so you know it is serious. The T500RS features a contactless magnetic sensor system called HallEffect AccuRate Technology, which gives gamers sixteen-bit precision input that represents a significant upgrade over the twelve-bit version from before.

You’ll also get 1080 degree wheel rotation and fully adjustable pedals configurable for floor mounted (F1-style) and suspended (GT-style) positions. It’s scheduled for a late December or mid January release, depending on your location and it will cost you $599.99.

Even though it isn’t a good idea to use your smartphone while driving, we sure come up with many ways to do just that. The key is to make it convenient and safe and practical to do so. The GoSmart clip holds your iPhone without compromising the touch screen, while an elastic watch strap allows you to secure it on the steering wheel, freeing your hands for safe driving.

It’s also compatible with all current generation PDAs or iPhones. The GoSmart clip sells for $39.95 at Amazon and appears to be well worth it if it makes you safer.

This isn’t the first Bluetooth Steering wheel attachment that we’ve seen, but the Steering Wheel Bluetooth MP3/FM Car Kit is a good idea to keep your hands free, thus keeping you a tad safer.

The device features Bluetooth, wireless audio, and functions just like a wireless headset. It even plays MP3s and can broadcast them to your car’s speakers using its FM transmitter.

Using your laptop while driving a car is pretty difficult and not very safe for you or your victims. Now this Laptop table for your steering wheel is obviously not meant to be used while driving, but there are always a few idiots out there who will do it. As for those morons, we can only hope that they crash into a tree as they twitter about typing while behind the wheel.

Idiots aside, this is actually great for the traveling businessperson who always has to stay connected. It’s also handy for parking your food and eating in the car. Hell, if you had to you could probably change a kids diaper on this thing instead of driving to a restaurant rest room. So for $23 it’s pretty useful as long as you aren’t an idiot.

If you’ve been keeping up with the Jones’, you’ll want to make sure that you get every Wii peripheral they have as well. That includes the Wii Steering Wheel II. It’s available now for hardcore Wii Mario Kart enthusiasts.

I hear ya. How is this any different from the other Wii steering wheels? Well, it fits a Wiimote that is rocking the Motion Plus. Other than that, it’s the usual cheap plastic wiimote holder.

If your car isn’t new enough to have Bluetooth integration, this Steering Wheel Bluetooth Adapter may be the perfect solution. It fits around the inner part of a steering wheel with some options for size adjustment. For $63 the adapter sports a microphone and speakers for speakerphone, an LCD display for incoming callers, SD port for MP3s, USB and FM-out so you can play everything back through your car’s stereo.

There is a catch however, the adapter’s power source is your car’s cigarette lighter. You would be connecting your steering wheel to the lighter. Which could be a safety hazard. Unless it’s rechargeable. In that case don’t charge it while driving.

In many states you aren’t supposed to hold a cell phone while driving. It’s the law. I once saw a teenage girl talking on her phone while driving a pick up truck, run straight into a parked car. There was nothing else around her for miles. She was simply distracted and didn’t have her focus on driving. This VR3 Bluetooth Steering Wheel Console might help those who have trouble doing two things at once.

It gives you hands free wireless chatting directly in front of you, with a design that keeps your hands on the wheel for safety. Sure, it’s ugly as hell, but so is an ambulance ride or a mangled corpse. It’s only $99.99.

Logitech, besides announcing a wireless Wii keyboard, also unveiled today a force feedback steering wheel for the PlayStation 3. It is called the Logitech Driving Force Wireless and it prices around $100.

The Logitech Driving Force Wireless wheel makes use of force feedback, which “creates directionally precise, tactile feedback that accurately simulates forces experienced in the game.” This wheel is also wireless, making use of a USB receiver to connect to the PS3.

Nintendo peripherals don’t just grow on digital trees. Real live people have to design them. Whether it’s the Zapper or the steering wheel, a ton of research and thought goes into them. During the design process for the wheel, Nintendo studied steering wheels from many go karts to make sure they got things just right.

They tried roughly 30 designs before they got it the way they wanted. I personally can’t wait to play some Mario Kart and if I know Nintendo, their final wheel may not look as cool as some of the ones above, but it should perform very nicely.

Mario Kart has not yet been released, but already there is at least one alternative that’s better then the steering wheel that comes with the game. Thrustmaster has apparently branched out from the joystick business and they are now selling the T-GoKart NW steering wheel accessory for the Wii.

First, it looks much cooler then the original that comes with Mario Kart. Plus, the T-GoKart has a rubber grip and strategically positions the Wiimote so that you can access the buttons easily while your hands are at the ‘10 and 2′ positions. It also has holes on both sides so you can use the Wiimote for pointing while it’s in the wheel or for connecting the Nunchuck controller when needed. You can get it in April for about $10. Let’s-a-go!