2006 Ford Fusion - Funkmaster Flex Style

DEARBORN, Mich., May 12 – Hip hop giant, disc jockey and custom car fanatic FunkMaster Flex has hooked up with Ford to customize the all-new 2006 Fusion and F-150. Today, FunkMaster Flex will meet and talk cars with Cass Tech High School students as a reward for completing "The Competition" – a yearlong class that enabled high school seniors to create and present a marketing campaign for the 2005 Mustang to Ford.

Flex will hit the road this summer with his latest Ford rides on the Funkmaster Flex 2005 Custom Car & Bike Show. Flex has customized rides for celebrities including Mariah Carey, Moby, Tyra Banks, Tracy McGrady, Wyclef Jean and John Madden. Flex’s customized Ford Fusion and F-150 will be completed this summer and given away on www.funkmasterflex.com and www.hot97.com  in the fall.

"The hip-hop culture is about youth, and youth always affects the automotive industry," Flex said. "From the time they get their license at 16, they start dictating what’s hot and what’s not."

"The Ford Fusion and F-150 are already hot cars," said Flex, "I’m just adding a little salt and pepper to something that is already great."

Ford Motor Company is proud to sponsor the "The Competition" a real world learning experience for 24 Cass Tech High School seniors. "The Competition" is a yearlong class that enabled high school seniors to create a marketing campaign for the 2005 Mustang and then present it to Ford. As a reward for completing the class, Ford has arranged a meet and greet with Funkmaster Flex prior to Ford’s review of their final presentations.

Three teams of eight students took part in "The Competition" this year. The students learned about product marketing and sales and even developed their own television commercials.

During the meet and greet Flex will show off the all-new 2006 Fusion to the students and getting their reactions.

Flex will be sharing his tricks of the trade with these show cars on the following dates during the Funkmaster Flex 2005 Custom Car & Bike Show.

During the week of May 16, Flex will highlight the perfect vehicles to take to the Prom on MTV’s Total Request Live a television show featuring popular music videos. Among the vehicles featured are a Ford Excursion Limousine and a 2005 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, which Flex dubs as the "ultimate" Prom car for 2005.