Sony is giving its early PlayStation 3 adopters a nice Christmas present it seems via a free download over the PlayStation Network on the PlayStation 3.

Polyphony Digital’s free demo of the next-generation Gran Turismo will hit online at the PlayStation Store on Christmas Eve.

The PlayStation 3 has not been the bearer of great news over the last recent days so it is nice to see Sony doing something positive for its console owners with this extremely surprise announcement.

Sony will be delivering its Christmas gift for North American gamers straight on the heels of the announcement from Polyphony Digital stating that they would be unveiling Gran Turismo HD Concept for Japanese PS3 owners.

Shortly after that announcement Sony Computer Entertainment America revealed a surprise of their own, that the same concept demo will be available for PlayStation 3 owners in the United States and Canada complete free of charge as of December 24th as a free download on the PlayStation Store.

The press release featured comments from the father of Gran Turismo Kazunori Yamauchi where he stated that, "Gran Turismo HD Concept provides PS3 and automotive fans a glimpse into the future of Gran Turismo. With the power of the PS3 technology, the world of Gran Turismo is refined by its full HD visual presentation and unique interactive experience, resulting in an even more realistic and true driving simulator."

Gran Turismo HD Concept will be in full 1080p resolution and feature cars from ten auto manufacturers from around the world.  They include Nissan, Ferrari, Infiniti, and Lotus.

An all-new track will also be included.  This demo is for a limited time only so be sure to take a break from tearing through presents and get this downloading onto your PlayStation 3 console as soon as possible.