Please do not adjust your set. There is nothing wrong with your current picture. Yes, this appears to be a Mercedes coupe with the nose from a G-Wagen... because that's exactly what it is.
This is 'The Flip.' It's a one-off concept car, built by Mercedes-AMG in concert ('cause the pun) with none other than will.I.am - judge on The Voice, musician with The Black-Eyed Peas, and all-round entrepreneur and music industry legend.
Why is Mercedes letting Mr .Am into its design studios, and setting him loose with a 2B pencil? Well, this is not your usual celebrity vanity project - both Mercedes and will.I.am have bigger things in mind here...
According to Mercedes: "The mission of this joint project 'The Flip - Innovation for Purpose' is to 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."
The car has been built by famed modifiers West Coast Customs and will be shown off as part of the Miami Grand Prix jamboree.
It's based on an AMG GT-Four Door, but those four doors have been ripped off and replaced with a pair of large rear-hinged items that put one in mind of a Rolls-Royce Wraith. Not in mind for long, though, as inevitably the attention is drawn to the big, square body section at the front which is indeed lifted from the light G-Wagen. The idea is to combine the two most desirable models in the Mercedes lineup - AMG's coupes and the massive G-Wagen.
"I grew up in a ghetto. 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," explains 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 energising to collaborate with like-minded people who also seek continuous improvement."
"Our cooperation with will.i.am has reached a new peak with 'The Flip'. We have inspired and motivated each other in the realisation 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'", according to Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG. "All the activities surrounding this one-of-a-kind vehicle based on the AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, influenced by design elements of the G-Class and the legendary 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 is supporting this project enthusiastically because it also fulfils a lifelong dream of will.i.am: he is a car guy through and through and a Mercedes-AMG enthusiast who has always dreamed of making his personal Mercedes-AMG vehicle a reality."
There's more - will.I.am has created a new logo for the project, which mixes a bear's face with the Mercedes star, and which is dubbed Bear Witness. That will be placed on branded clothing and accessories, the sales of which will be put towards will.I.am's foundation. There will also be a six-part documentary series outlining the work of the foundation, called 'DRIVE.'