New York City Concours d'Elegance Press Conference, NYC 11 a.m., Monday Sept. 19, 2005

NEW YORK CITY, NY September 18, 2005 -- The New York City Concours d’Elegance will hold a press conference at the Audi Forum (250 Park Avenue) at 11 a.m. on Monday 19 September 2005.

Thomas Hamann, the Chairman of the New York City Concours d’Elegance, will speak about his personal motivations for bringing this prestigious, world-class occasion to New York City and will present some of the participating cars and eminent judges, the overall configuration and style of New York’s first Concours d’Elegance as well as the calendar of celebratory events, to include sponsored cocktail receptions and an Awards Ceremony/Gala Dinner.

One of the main sponsors of the New York City Concours d’Elegance is Audi, who will host the press conference in their prestigious Park Avenue showroom at 47th Street. "Audi embodies the very essence of a Concours d’Elegance. It is very fitting that we are working so closely with such an historical company which has been crafting extraordinary automobiles for over 100 years." Other sponsors include Yamaha, Maybach, Lufthansa, Sony VIP, Bombardier Flexjet, Ferragamo, Ghurka, Chopard, Davidoff, Diageo, Hennessey, Artist House Holdings, Einstein Industries Inc., Bonhams & Butterfields, Putnam Leasing and Octane Magazine.

Speaking at the press conference will be Kenneth Podziba, NYC Sports Commissioner; renowned designer John Bartlett; Thomas Hamann, Chairman of the Concours d’Elegance; and Axel Catton, Director of Brand Communications at Audi.

There will be a special preview of the 1929 AUDI Imperator which has been restored to its original condition and will be on display at the press conference. This model of the Imperator, an eight-cylinder automobile, is probably the only car of this type still in existence anywhere in the world. As Thomas Frank of the AUDI AG Heritage Division puts it, “The Audi Imperator looks fantastic, down to the tiniest detail. Our expectations have been more than fulfilled”.

The first annual New York City Concours d’Elegance will take place at historic Wollman Rink in Central Park on September 30th through October 2nd, 2005. Rare and famous automobiles, an internationally renowned judging panel, automobile aficionados, celebrities, and an exclusive atmosphere: all the elements for a fun-filled weekend that celebrates the design, elegance, and power of unique automobiles.

Celebrity classic car owners have been invited to participate and confirmed judges include Malcolm Barber, Rick Carey, Chris Current, David Davis Jr., John Fitch, Dick Fritz, Christian Philippsen, Chuck Queener, Gerald Roush, Larry Smith, Roger L Werner Jr. and celebrity car enthusiasts Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries" and "The Devil Wears Prada"), Malcolm McDowell ("Clockwork Orange") and Thom Filicia ("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"). Alain de Cadenet from London, an ex-race car driver and TV-commentator will preside as Master of Ceremonies.

Notable inclusions at this spectacular event attracting enthusiasts from around the globe include the Jaguar D-type, the Jaguar C-type, a Ferrari 125 (the first ever sold), a 1949 Ferrari 166MM, a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, a 1957 Maserati 300S, an Aston Martin DB4 GT Bertone as well as a selection of Ferraris to be shown on Ferraris-only day.

The New York Concours d’Elegance will make contributions to the Central Park Conservancy, New Yorkers for Children, Robert Packard Center for ALS at John Hopkins University, Autism Speaks, New York City School Fund and Hurricane Katrina Organization Fund.

For further information, contact:

Sponsorship/PR/Media Susan Shin: 917 916 9009 or PR/Media Mark Langrish: 646 752 8377