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Ford collaborated with hip-hop DJ and noted vehicle customizer Funkmaster Flex to create the 2008 Funkmaster Flex Edition and other show vehicles.
The Ford Expedition isn't typically associated with custom vehicles, but in 2007, Ford partnered with hip-hop DJ and car customizer Funkmaster Flex on a limited-edition 2008 model.
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Famed hip-hop DJ Funkmaster Flex is also a noted auto customizer. He worked with Ford to create several unique vehicles in the 2000s.
The Expedition was in its third generation, redesigned based on the Ford F-Series and including a new extended-length Expedition EL, nearly 15 inches longer than the standard model. The 2008 Funkmaster Flex Edition was based on the standard-length Expedition and featured a 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
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The 2008 Funkmaster Flex Edition was based on the standard-length Expedition.
Funkmaster Flex collaborated with Ford designers starting in 2006 to create "an expressive concept that delivers Expedition's SUV authenticity with a unique urban style and presence," according to a Ford press release. In his third year of a partnership with Ford, the DJ had customized more than 15 vehicles for the automaker, including the Fusion, F-150, and Mustang.
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The “Flexpedition as it was unofficially known, was "an expressive concept that delivers Expedition's SUV authenticity with a unique urban style and presence.”
Dubbed the "Flexpedition" by automotive media, the vehicle was best known for its two-tone red-and-black paint scheme with orange pinstriping. The Expedition and its 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine had a modified exhaust, 3dCarbon body kit, 24-inch aluminum wheels with performance tires, a custom rear spoiler with integrated center lights, and Funkmaster Flex badging. The interior featured a matching two-tone dash, door panels, steering wheel, and black leather seats, along with aftermarket stereo equipment, including DVD touchscreens, a subwoofer, and connections for iPods and other MP3 players.
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The vehicle was most known for its two-tone red-and-black paint scheme with orange pinstriping.
The Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition debuted at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. While the “Flexpedition” was short-lived, it serves as a reminder when a fusion of hip-hop culture and automotive design helped Ford appeal to the custom car community with one of its longtime products.
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