Mercedes-AMG, will.i.am reveal ‘The Flip’ at Miami GP

The recently held Miami GP offered no shortages of stars, both man and machine. Those following the races might have spotted famous folks like His Airness Michael Jordan, Posh Spice’s husband and English football legend David Beckham, as well as American football icon Tom Brady.

Also present at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix was Mercedes-AMG with innovator, tech entrepreneur, and global star will.i.am. Mercedes’ high-performance division and the former Black Eyed Peas member were not just there as spectators but were at the event for the launch of “The Flip,” an automotive masterpiece with an expressive design and a far-reaching message.

“I grew up in a ghetto. I grew up with hip hop. I watched legendary hip hop artist 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,” explained will.i.am.

“Now I’ve reached my goal and pushed even higher by re-imagining 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 story of the founders of AMG truly inspires me and it is energizing to collaborate with like-minded people who also seek continuous improvement,” he continued.

“The Flip” was built in collaboration with West Coast Customs and was designed to set an example for the future: the mission of this joint project “The Flip — Innovation for Purpose.” “The Flip” will give more students from disadvantaged communities access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education in order to be equipped with the skills required for future-focused jobs and to invent new technologies.

All the activities surrounding this one-of-a-kind vehicle 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.

“Our cooperation with will.i.am has reached a new peak with ‘The Flip.’ We have inspired and motivated each other in the realization of this holistic concept, which is far more than an exceptional automotive one-off. We take our responsibility to society seriously. 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. We are continuing this legacy into the future together with will.i.am and ‘The Flip,’” said Mercedes-AMG Board of Management Chair Philipp Schiemer.

Photos from Mercedes-Benz

Also read: 

Mercedes-AMG debuts EQE EV

Mercedes-AMG celebrates 55th year with limited-run G 63 Edition 55

Mercedes-AMG goes all-electric with the EQS 53 4Matic+