Mercedes-Benz and Gran Turismo 5 are tying up for a program that is sure to give fans of both the car manufacturer and the video game franchise something to get excited about.

For every customer who signs up for this year's Mercedes AMG Driving Academy, an opportunity awaits them of not just test-driving the 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG out on the track, but also on a racing sled - don't laugh, it's true - courtesy of Gran Turismo 5.

We don't know how the whole program is going to look, but according to Sony, the two tracks that will host the AMG Driving Academy - Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca - will be installed in the demo game on racing sleds, which according to Greg Clark, Mercedes-Benz->ke187 USA's product manager, will give participants the "opportunity to compare the realistic Gran Turismo 5 Mercedes demo on the racing sled and then the actual SLS AMG on the track. The demo gives participants a chance to get a realistic feel for the car before they step into the SLS AMG."

In addition to the SLS AMG, the AMG Driving Academy will also feature other AMG-tuned Mercedes cars like the SLS->ke2504, the C63 AMG, the E63 AMG, the SL63 AMG, and the SLK55 AMG. The academy doesn't come cheap though. The cheapest alternative is a one-day Basic course with a fee of $1,795, a two-day Advance course worth $3,295, and a three-day Pro course that goes for $3,995.

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