It's not the kind of launch you want a new range-topping luxosedan to endure. This morning, photos of the new 2009 BMW 7-Series ended up splashed across the Interwebs, through Flickr. It's uncertain if some dope put these embargoed pics on their account and thought they were marked "private," or if they liberally applied the fair-use doctrine to their own timeline.

Whatever the case, here are the lo-res versions of the 7-Series galleries minus all the Photoshop festooning applied to those Euro hooligans. The official word and pics on the 7er come down next week, and we'll bring you more on it then--as well as from the Paris auto show in October. Meanwhile, savor the somewhat soft-focus shots of the 7-Series' new tail, markedly cleaner interior, and more refined silhouette.

The next generation of the BMW 5-Series will sport an advanced version of the iDrive system and more cues to bring its interior closer to those found in Audis.

TheCarConnection.com's spy photographer ring has nabbed these new photos of the next BMW 5-Series, including the first interior photos. The cabin shot shows a relocated iDrive controller with satellite buttons, which may provide shortcuts like the buttons that surround Audi's MMI controller. A joystick-style shifter is also found inside, as is a button for an electronic parking brake.

The new 5-Series also has a redesigned cockpit; the steering wheel has roller-type controls again like those in Audis. On the equipment list: keyless start/stop, an active suspension, a night-vision system, a head-up display, and a navigation system with a larger display.

The body styles for the new BMW 5-Series will include a Sedan, a Touring wagon, and a fastback version along the lines of the new X6. All-wheel drive will be offered across the lineup. A debut at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show might be in the cards for the new 5-Series, which likely will make it to the U.S. as a 2011 model.

Last week in California, Hyundai opened up the doors on the 2009 Genesis sedan to the automotive press for the first home-court drives. TheCarConnection.com was there--and as a result, after a day of looping around the hills above Santa Barbara and clocking some track time at the central valley's Buttonwillow race track, I've gone back to our full review of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis and boosted its scores for performance, comfort, and quality.

Why the change? With our new review format, TheCarConnection.com is examining sources from around the Web and letting you know which opinions matter--with our editorial team's opinion guiding the way. In our first exposure to the Genesis, most of the test drives took place in prototypes and on non-U.S. roads. With the change in venue--real cars riding on real American roads--it's appropriate to revisit scoring, and it's something TheCarConnection.com will keep doing in all its reviews. We'll re-evaluate cars as we drive them more and as more reviews come in through a car's lifespan.

I found out plenty about the Genesis's performance on the hilly drive to Ojai and the flat, dusty stretch out toward Buttonwillow, along with my Autoblog co-pilot. Driving both the V-6 version and the powerful V-8 model, it's difficult to find a reason not to choose either engine. The 290-horsepower V-6 is strong and smooth enough, but the V-8 is truly remarkable. With 375 horsepower, it never seems to run out of energy. The six-speed automatic transmission coupled to both engines has a manual mode, but shift paddles would greatly accentuate the "sport" tag that Hyundai wants to be applied to the Genesis.

In terms of ride and handling, the Genesis is clearly biased toward the former. It's fairly unflappable cruising over large bumps at freeway speed, and even in some back-to-back handling tests arranged by Hyundai, the Genesis acquits itself well against the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW 7-Series, even. The Genesis, though, is less confident at truly high speeds than the Germans; the cushy ride gets a little nervous at triple-digit speeds, though it never loses composure. Rapid switchbacks bring out the roll and lean designed into the ride quality, but it's controllable stuff--and another sign of Hyundai's growing confidence in tuning its cars to handle well, if on the softer side of the spectrum. It's enough to boost the Genesis to an 8, in our opinion.

In terms of comfort and quality, the Genesis's sometimes lavish interior trim and large backseat deserve an upgrade from a 7 to an 8. The initial set of reviews and our initial impressions were that some fit and finish issues still had to be sorted out. Spending a day in a saddle-interior Genesis and a version with the perforated leather package, we could only find a minor flaw or two in the Genesis's upscale cabin. It's heavily reminiscent of the Infiniti M, especially in the center stack, where a wave of silver buttons controls the major functions (there's also an iDrive-like controller that manipulates media and climate controls). The buttons can be hard to pick out from behind the wheel, when you just want to speed up the fan--but the look is sophisticated and rich. Hyundai's entertainment controller made connecting to music in an iPhone a breeze, and its navigation menus seemed far easier to use than some setups. The backseat has truly adult-sized room; you can cross a leg over knee and still have enough room between it and the front seat back. A minor ripple in a pre-production V-8 sedan with the leather-trimmed dash was the only noticeable flaw.

The Genesis isn't done here. A Coupe version is coming, and product planners say all-wheel drive is possible mid-cycle--so I expect Hyundai's plans for a big crossover vehicle to share a lot of Genesis pieces. As the time comes for more information on that vehicle, TheCarConnection.com will be there to keep you posted. In the meantime, get all the information on the 2009 Genesis including pricing, specifications, and of course, our full review here.

While Hyundai launches the new Genesis sport sedan this month, it’s already turning its attention to seven new vehicles it plans to introduce over the next 24 months.

The Genesis sedan is the first V-8-powered vehicle from the brand to be sold in the United States. As it arrives in U.S. showrooms this month, it offers a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines—the latter with 375 horsepower—along with a six-speed automatic transmission, a roomy interior, and a choice of upscale options like a Lexicon audio system, a navigation system, an in-car controller like the Audi MMI or BMW iDrive controllers, and abundant leather and aluminum trim.

Later this year, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe breaks cover, with a 300-horsepower V-6 engine but no V-8 option. Also on the docket: The new Hyundai Elantra Touring, which is based on the i30 hatchback already on sale in Europe.

Moving forward, Hyundai’s plans for a new range of cars are being dubbed internally as “24/7 2.0.” Earlier this decade, Hyundai brought out vehicles like the Tucson and Sonata under the first “24/7” plan, which stood for seven new vehicles in 24 months. The 2.0 version of the plan, set for the 2009-2011 model years, includes the Genesis Coupe, the Elantra Touring, and replacements for the Sonata sedan and Tucson small crossover.

Also a part of the plan are replacements for the Accent sedan and coupe. Those vehicles will share some design elements with last year’s Veloster concept shown above; the coupe, in fact, could adopt the Tiburon name that’s not being applied to the Genesis Coupe.

Also in the offing: a new crossover vehicle that could be a “bit of a surprise for the industry,” according to Hyundai product planning chief John Krafcik.

Suzuki says its new sports sedan will bow at an auto show in 2009--but it won't be the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

As Porsche has already confirmed, Suzuki will pass on attending the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. In doing so, Suzuki's abandoning Cobo Hall for more spacious digs at competing auto shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. No reasons were given for the move, only the statement that Suzuki "will not attend" the Detroit show next January.

While it's skipping winter in Motown, Suzuki is planning a raft of appearances at locally important and international auto shows next year. At one of them, the Japanese automaker will parade a new sports sedan that's been shown in concept form as the Kizashi and Kizashi 2. Shown here at the Tokyo show last year, the Suzuki Kizashi 2 was billed as "an emotionally appealing shape that reflects a dual focus on status and vitality in a way that generates excitement about its performance and heightens the pleasure of ownership."

Details are few on the production version of the sedan--including at which auto show it might first appear. However, the concept Kizashi 2 was powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, a powertrain expected to appear in the real Suzuki sedan when it goes on sale. A hybrid version is said to be in the works as well.

Stay tuned for more from Suzuki and for more on the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.