GTPlanet

Mercedes-Benz is running a special blog, hosted by “Matthew”, covering the launch of the company’s new SLS AMG at various events around the world. Of course, he was on hand at the Tokyo Game Show, and shared the experience with the video above. While there’s little that we haven’t already seen, things get a little more interesting when Polyphony Digital employees show up to take a second look at the SLS on display.

Presumably, they’re looking to refine the model in the game, and seemed particularly curious about the functionality of the headlights. They also observe the opening of the fuel door cover – something which will need to be simulated thanks to the new, fully animated pit crews who attach a fueling rig to the car. As we slowly learn more and more about the game, it will be interesting to see how Yamauchi’s team choose to implement these small details.

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Two (now three) new videos showing the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in Gran Turismo 5.

Just as Mercedes-Benz told us, their new SLS AMG is on hand to represent GT5 at the Tokyo Game Show. 1UP.com offers this sneak peek at the show floor, and it looks like our favorite racing game is taking center stage at Sony’s massive booth. It’s hard to see much else behind the big display, but it’s a safe bet there’s a few PS3’s loaded up with a fresh new demo of the game hiding back there.

I’d also like to remind you about the updated press conference time – as it turns out, the 10:30 AM (Tokyo time) is when Sony Computer Entertainment’s CEO Kaz Hirai gives his keynote address, and GT5 news from that is unlikely. Sony’s full press conference won’t begin until a few hours later (1:30 PM Tokyo time), when there is a much better chance of Kazunori Yamauchi taking the stage. I’ve updated my original post accordingly, so please take a second look at it to calculate the new time of the presentation in your local area.

A Mercedes-Benz press release just hit the wires this morning, confirming that the new SLS AMG will be featured in Gran Turismo 5. It’s also going to be on display at the Tokyo Game Show later this week, along “with [the] latest information on Gran Turismo 5″. Apparently, the leaked video of Kazunori Yamauchi examining the SLS AMG meant something, after all!

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG which celebrated its world premiere during the 2009 International Motor Show (IAA), is the highlight in the latest version of the PlayStation®3 video game Gran Turismo®5. And just as with the visitors to the IAA, it is expected to excite gamers worldwide with its breathtaking performance.

When Gran Turismo®5 comes out soon to continue the success of this popular game series, fans the world over can look forward to the opportunity to take control of a very special car. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will be just as impressive in the game as it is in real life, thanks to the extremely realistic rendering techniques used to depict its drivers. Drivers of the SLS AMG can look forward to taking part in thrilling high speed races on a variety of different race tracks, including the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, while competing against other vehicles from the super sports car segment.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will be displayed at the Tokyo Game Show (24 – 27 September 2009) with latest information on Gran Turismo®5.

With the new interpretation of the legendary gullwing, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a truly exciting super sports car which features an extremely impressive technology package: aluminium spaceframe bodywork with gullwing doors, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front centre engine with a maximum power of 420 kW/571 hp and dry sump lubrication, 7-speed double clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration, and sports suspension with aluminium double wishbone axles. The ideal weight distribution of 47 to 53 percent between the front and rear axles and the low centre of gravity accentuate the uncompromising sports car design. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will celebrate its market launch in the spring of 2010.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year (or just not reading the car magazines/blogs…), you probably know about the new Mercedes SLS AMG -- the company’s replacement for the SLR McLaren and the spiritual successor to the classic 300SL Gullwing. It was only recently announced by Mercedes, but that didn’t stop Kazunori Yamauchi from getting the chance to slip behind the wheel. As you can see in these two apparently leaked videos (see the other one here), Yamauchi-san saw the car both with and without camouflage, outside and in.

The obvious question: was he checking out the car while the Polyphony Digital team gathered the necessary data for Gran Turismo 5? We may never know for sure -- even if it doesn’t make it on to the Blu-Ray disc, it’s still an obvious candidate for download in the future. Time will tell! Thanks to SleepyK for digging this up!