Will.i.am and Mercedes-Benz AMG have unveiled a unique car.
Behold Will.i.am's one-off car, the Will.i.am AMG, developed with Mercedes-Benz AMG.
Actor and singer Will.i.am is the brand ambassador for AMG's new electrified lineup, starting with the 2023 GT 63S E Performance four-door coupe.But notice that there are only two large doors. These are rear opening coach doors with deep troughs on the exterior, mimicking the design used on the SLS AMG. Inspired by another AMG, the boxy G 63, the Mercedes Three Pointed Star logo has an interesting twist: the mouth of a bear's face. This is called "Bear Witness."
The powertrain remains unchanged. Will.i.am said in a statement that he did not mention the engine because he believes AMG builds "the best engines." No mention was made of which model the GT 4-door coupe was based on, but the new GT 63S E Performance 4-door coupe, a plug-in hybrid, would have a maximum output of 843 hp. A six-part documentary on the car's production process may provide further details; the series, dubbed "Drive," is scheduled to premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival later this month.
Will.i.am has built, or at least been involved in building, several similar project cars in the past. These include a DeLorean DMC-12, a C1 Chevrolet Corvette, and a custom version of the original Volkswagen Beetle (shown in the video above).
While his cars are certainly a luxury item, in many cases they were built for a good cause. Several of his cars were built by the I.am.auto initiative, which was established to get children interested in the technical disciplines needed to develop cars. all of the work associated with the Will.i.am.AMG was donated to the Will.i.am.i.am/Angel Foundation to support the promotion of STEM subjects, especially in inner-city schools.
