As a child, Will.i.am “saw legendary hip-hop artists rapping about Mercedes”, so he “always dreamed of owning a Mercedes”. The singer of the Black Eyed Peas has of course achieved this goal. But he wanted to go further: to have his own Mercedes, a model that no one else would have.
This is today done. Will.i.am has teamed up with the firm with the star, they have together designed a unique vehicle, what is called in the jargon a one-off (like the Ferrari SP48 Unica unveiled this week). His name: WILL.I.AMG.
The basis here is the four-door AMG GT, which can be recognized at the rear. But the front is completely revised, with an obvious influence: the G-Class. This gives a curious mix. We thus find the round optics and the very straight grille of the fighter, and more generally its very square appearance. Another influence: the SLS Gullwing. This vehicle is thus equipped with two huge doors, with an inverted opening.
Will.i.am also took the liberty of changing the logo. The Mercedes star is placed here in a bear’s head, a logo that will be found on a clothing collection, part of the proceeds of which will go to the singer’s foundation, to allow “more students from underprivileged communities” to access education “in order to be equipped with the skills required for the jobs of the future and to invent new technologies”.
The coupe, whose engine has not been retouched, will make its debut in Miami (United States), on the occasion of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
–
