For this week’s Media Tuesday, then, we’re sharing Kelley Blue Book’s video review:

Earlier this week, Audi confirmed that the A8 hybrid was going into production, and shared some details about the luxury sedan.

In a press release about the car, Audi said that the A8 will go into production next year. It’s destined to be powered by a 211-hp four-cylinder engine combined with a 54-hp electric motor, that will give the power train a maximum capability of 245-hp and provide 345 lb-ft of torque. Under solely electric power, the A8 can reach speeds of 62 mph for up to 1.8 miles, but the car actually has five different modes of operation: gas-only, gas-electric, electric only, battery recuperation, and power-boosting. The instrument panel will include displays of the current mode, and give the driver a choice of either pure-EV mode (when the battery is charged) “D” mode for maximum combined efficiency, and “S” mode for more power.

Overall, Audi says, the efficiency of the A8 will be just under 37 mph, though since the car is not yet confirmed for production in the United States, that number is based on much more forgiving European testing. (Currently, the most fuel-efficient version of the A8 available in the US is the 8-cylinder model which reaches 21 mpg.)

What are they? Here’s the list:

1. 2011 Smart Fortwo: 33/41/36 mpg city/highway/combined
2. 2011 Audi A3 TDI: 30/42/34 mpg city/highway/combined
3. 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI: 30/42/34 mpg city/highway/combined
4. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: 30/42/34 mpg city/highway/combined
5. 2011 Ford Fiesta SFE: 29/40/33 mpg city/highway/combined
6. 2011 Hyundai Elantra: 29/40/33 mpg city/highway/combined
7. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI: 29/39/33 mpg city/highway/combined
8. 2011 Ford Fiesta: 29/38/33 mpg city/highway/combined (non SFE)
9. 2011 Mini Cooper: 29/37/32 mpg city/highway/combined
10. 2011 Toyota Yaris: 29/36/32 mpg city/highway/combined

According to Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi is increasing production of the A1 to meet greater demand. The car, which was originally meant only for the European market, will be offered globally (except for China and the United States) in 2011. Schwarzenbauer added that this smallest of Audi’s models will be available in China sometime after 2011, but that it wouldn’t be available to U.S. consumers until the model’s second generation “at the earliest.”

The Audi A1, which is designed to compete with BMW AG’s 1-series and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz A-class, will go on sale this Friday, August 27th, and – at least in Germany – the base price will be 15,800 euros.

Schwarzenbauer said that it was interest generated from the Audi A1′s website that spurred the plan to expand sales of the car. In an interview on Tuesday, he said, “We will expand our production capacities by 20 percent” for the A1. The original production plan was for only 100,000 A1s per year, all coming from the company’s factory in Brussels.

Audi, which could set a record sales goal of more than 1.08 million cars and SUVs this year, has set its sights on dethroning BMW as the world’s largest luxury carmaker by 2015, when it wants to reach annual sales of 1.5 million vehicles.

All of the German big three automakers, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, have seen increased sales this years, thanks to greater demand in China, the largest car market in the world, and a rebound in the United States.

In order to connect, passengers must posses a SIM card with a data plan, or a Bluetooth-enabled phone that is capable of being tethered to the car’s “infotainment” system. Audi is not charging any fees, so the only cost, other than the price to add the accessory, is whatever your wireless carrier charges for the use of data.

Audi has yet to determine availability and pricing for the system here in the United States, but representatives of the company say that the mobile internet option will likely be offered on American models.

For those who feel the Audi A8‘s pricetag is a bit steep, but still want to keep the ‘net at their fingertips while traveling, mobile internet solutions have been built into the latest version of Ford Sync, and are available via dealer-installed accessories in the Cadillac CTS and various Chrysler vehicles.

According to the folks at Audi, details about the system’s U.S. availability and pricing have yet to be determined. However, they say the mobile internet option will very likely be offered on American A8s.

Automotive News reported over the weekend that Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM), the company that makes BlackBerry phones has agreed to the aquisition of QNX Software Systems from Harman International Industries, Inc. Why are they doing this? It’s to gain access to technology for wireless connections in cars.

The tech that RIM will gain will specifically aid Acura, Audi, and BMW cars with connections to cell phones, navigation systems, and music players. RIM is expanding into new markets, in an attempt to offset slowing sales growth and decreasing prices, as well as the heavy competition from Apple, Inc.’s iPhone and Google’s DROID systems.

RIM has not disclosed the terms of the deal, but the Waterloo, Ontario, Canada-based company expects the deal to close in mid-to-late May. QNX’s current owner, Harman, bought the software company in 2004 for $138 million in cash, and also assumed some debt.

Audi’s board member in charge of technical development, Michael Dick, shared the news that future versions of the A6 sedan could potentially be completely hybrid-powered by the end of 2012, joining the hybrid A8 sedan which was introduced earlier this month at the Geneva Auto Show. There is also a hybrid Q5 crossover with to be launched in the near future. In fact, hybrid options may span Audi’s entire lineup by 2020.

Also by 2020, Audi has pledged a 30% efficieny increase in their standard internal combustion engines, and five percent of the brand’s available vehicles to be electric.

In an interview, Dick explained that the challenge with electric vehicles is, “…to make all of these things possible for series production.”

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler supported this agenda, speaking from Geneva, and saying, “In the future, our customers will be able to choose from an increasingly broad range of driveline technologies. We shall offer electric power in the best possible forms for a wide range of mobility needs. The hybrid driveline will be followed by all-electric vehicles.”

Stadler added, “The e-tron name will have an important part to play. Just as ‘quattro’ has become a synonym for all-wheel drive, so ‘e-tron’ is to be the Audi brand name for electric mobility.”

Recently, Audi created a new division devoted to the development and production of a line of high-priced e-tron electric cars, with the first to roll off the line at 2012. This is a departure from the standard take on electrics, which is to first offer smaller cars meant for urban driving.

VW Group, Audi’s parent company, wants to be the world’s top seller of hybrids and electrics by the end of the decade, increasing it’s market share of electric vehicles to 3 percent of it’s total offerings by 2018. Global vplans include the launch of the E-UP (a fully electric version of the Up minicar), as well as the E-Golf and E-Jetta in 2015. Preparation for this launch will begin with the debut of a fleet of 500 electric Golfs worldwide, in 2011, though current plans involve only the E-Jetta ever being sold in the United States.