Pink Audi A1 Up for Grabs To Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation

Just the Facts:

• A pink Audi A1 will be auctioned to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
• The Audi's unique exterior paint job was designed by British artist Damien Hirst.
• Hirst has been described as the "richest living artist."

WINDSOR, England — The Audi A1 has joined the ranks of pink vehicles, ranging from the 1955 Dodge LaFemme to the pink Fiat 500 created to honor the 50th anniversary of the Barbie doll. The uncharacteristic look for Audi — which does not typically offer pink as part of its color palette — is for a one-of-a-kind vehicle set to cross the auction block on June 24 to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The car, created by British artist Damien Hirst, will be up for grabs at the rock star's annual White Tie and Tiara ball here. A promotional photo of the Audi A1, with Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish standing nearby, shows a primarily pink A1 with smatterings of other pastel shades. It is described as "fully drivable and road legal." The car is being offered with a canvas "spin painting" also created by Hirst.

No dollar value was placed on the special A1 — or the spin painting.

"Audi has been a wonderful partner with us, and this year they have really produced something fantastic," said John in a statement. "I am sure it will be a huge hit with our guests."

Pickled animals, not automobiles, are Hirst's usual metier — along with making boatloads of money. In a September 17, 2008, story, the Times of London chronicled his ability to command top dollar for his creations. "Against a backdrop of carnage in the global financial markets Hirst walked away with [the U.S. equivalent of 143] million last night for two years' worth of pickled animals, spot paintings, dead butterfly collages and stubbed-out cigarettes."

Wikipedia describes him as the "richest living artist."

Hirst has a well-documented obsession with death, a central theme of his work. His iconic creation is "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living," a 13-foot tiger shark immersed in formaldehyde and on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He has also produced artwork with other dead animals, including a sheep and cow — some of them dissected.

Inside Line says: Even if you're not a fan of pink, this Audi A1 — and the accompanying spin painting — promises to be a true investment, given that it was created at the hand of a British master. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent