The Mercedes-Benz design collaborations with top celebrities and designers continue.

The latest is Mercedes-AMG‘s collaboration with multi-platinum musician, tech entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Time 100 IMPACT Award winner will.i.am (aka William Adams) launched in September 2021 and now culminating in a project that launched on May 5th in Miami and at www.will.i.am.

“The Flip” one-off vehicle named WILL.I.AMG is intended to help Mercedes-AMG and will.i.am “drive forward new ideas and push boundaries.” In their sixth project together, will.i.am teamed up again with West Coast Customs to execute his vision for The Flip.

In addition, it is meant to shine a light on the mission of “The Flip – Innovation for Purpose,” which is to give more students from disadvantaged communities access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education to help equip them with the skills required for future-focused jobs and inventing new technologies.

“I grew up in a ghetto,” explained will.i.am. “I grew up with hip-hop. I watched legendary hip-hop artists rap about Mercedes, so it was always a dream to own a Mercedes. For a lot of inner-city kids, owning a Mercedes is a symbol of progress and advancing out of struggle. Now I’ve reached my goal and pushed even higher by reimagining and creating my own vision of an AMG model. But I didn’t touch the engine because AMG really does make the best engines.”

The world premiere of the car took place during the new Formula 1 Grand Prix USA in Miami, FL, in the company of prominent guests such as F1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton. The car is based upon the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe that has been extensively modified.

The Mercedes cooperation with will.i.am is meant to be far more than an automotive one-off.

“We take our responsibility to society seriously,” said Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “The success of Mercedes-AMG as a Performance Luxury brand also depends to a large extent on inspiring the next generation and giving them easy access to the latest technologies and digital progress. It is part of our tradition to always be pioneers and to dare to do something new.”

The activities surrounding the vehicle, influenced by design elements of the G-Class and the SLS Gullwing, will benefit will.i.am’s i.am/Angel Foundation to help build a STEAM-ready talent pool that will lift families and communities out of poverty. Mercedes-AMG says it is supporting this project enthusiastically because it also fulfills a lifelong dream of will.i.am of making his personal Mercedes-AMG vehicle a reality.

Will.i.am created a bear-like face icon that is also the focal point of the BEAR WITNESS collection that features limited-edition apparel and accessories available at the Mercedes-AMG Experience Center in Miami and online. The collection, Drop 1 – Limited Edition, is available on https://will.i.am. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the i.am/Angel Foundation.

The creation of the car was captured in a six-part documentary series called DRIVE. Previewed at the May 5th reveal event, it will then go on to premiere in Cannes during the 2022 film festival.

The will.i.am collaboration follows another mission/design-led one for Mercedes with the late Virgil Abloh that culminated in the launch of a limited-edition S-Class and capsule collection inspired by Project MAYBACH.

In April, Mercedes-Maybach unveiled the final chapter of its cooperation with the late polymath artist, architect, creative director, fashion designer, and philanthropist—and Chief Creative Director and founder of Off White and Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton—designed in partnership with Mercedes‑Benz Group AG Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener in 2021.

The limited-edition S‑Class was Abloh’s third cooperation project with Mercedes‑Benz and the second with Mercedes-Maybach. In December, Mercedes‑Benz at the Rubell Museum during Miami Art Week showcased Project MAYBACH, a show car previewing the future possibilities of electric-vehicle design with off-road flare. A year earlier, Abloh and Wagener reimagined the Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class with Project Geländewagen.

“My ultimate goal in this project with Mercedes-Benz is inspiring young artists, engineers, and designers to question the status quo, in addition to experimenting with my own design abilities,” said Abloh of the Project Geländewagen. “For me, it’s all about providing opportunities for those coming after me and giving this next generation a foundation for success, both here with Mercedes-Benz and through my own Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholarship Fund.”