Audi Announces Key Sponsorship of 2001 International Art Event in Los Angeles

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 12 Audi of America announced
today that it is a key sponsor for the 2001 Absolut-L.A. International, a
four-week gallery opening and exhibition event that brings a vast array of the
world's best contemporary art work to Los Angeles.  This year approximately 65
of L.A.'s best contemporary galleries and art institutions will offer gallery
space and exhibition venues to over 200 artists from 30 countries from July 18
through August 18, 2001.
    The event will launch with the Bergamot Station Galleries exhibit openings
in Santa Monica on July 18 from 5-8 p.m.  Audi will have one of its
international masterpieces -- the TT Roadster -- featured at Bergamot Station
throughout the four-week event.
    Gallery openings will then continue on July 19, from 6-9 p.m. in West
Hollywood, Westwood and Beverly Hills.  On July 20, the La Brea Avenue,
Beverly Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and Wilshire galleries will host openings
from 6-9 p.m.  On Saturday, July 21, from 1-4 p.m. openings will be held at
galleries in Venice and in Santa Monica on Main Street, Colorado Avenue and
the 18th Street Arts Complex.  Also on July 21, the downtown Los Angeles and
Chinatown galleries will have their openings from 4-7 p.m.  Following the
openings, art enthusiasts can view exhibitions on display through August 18.
    "The Absolut-L.A. International is a citywide nonprofit event conceived to
foster a dialogue between the Los Angeles art community and artists,
galleries, curators, museums, collectors and visitors from around the world.
Since its inception in 1993, the Absolut-L.A. International has grown in
breadth and quality of participation, sponsorship and recognition as can
easily be evidenced through partnerships with sophisticated companies such as
Audi," said event co-chairs Robert Berman and William Turner.
    "Audi is honored and very excited to be a key sponsor for the 2001
Absolut-L.A. International," stated Maria Nahigian, Audi Event Marketing
Manager.  "We are a strong advocate of the artist community, as it is a
reflection of the emotion and design that are the heart of the Audi Brand."
    Audi of America is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., and markets a
line of performance-oriented luxury cars: the A4, A6, A8, TT and allroad
quattro.  An all-new Audi A4 will hit the U.S. market later this fall.  The
new A4 will have a new design celebrating the serious, the sensuous, the
sporting with stunning symmetry and powerful performance.  Audi's event
marketing programs center around the performing arts, lifestyle and sporting
events.  The parent company, Audi AG, is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany.
For more information about additional Audi-related events and corporate news,
visit http://www.audiusa.com .