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Wait a second, doesn't this spy shot look a lot like the Phantom Drophead Coupe that's already out on the market? That's what Rolls Royce would have you believe, but EVO is certain this is the Spirit of Ecstasy's upcoming hard-top two-door, previewed by the 101EX concept and recently confirmed for production. These shots follow similar ones from last month, indicating that BMW's best engineers are hard at work.

What's the big difference, you ask? Word on the street is that, while the DHC is built for leisurely cruising from the yacht club to the golf course, the new model will be more driver-focused. A driver's Rolls? Interesting...We'll just have to sit tight until March when the new mega-coupe is scheduled to debut at the Geneva show, two years after the concept's unveiling at the same event, to find out more. In the meantime, follow the link to check out the shots in depth.

[Source: EVO via Automobiles De Luxe]

Click image for gallery

Pebble Beach provides the swanky surroundings for the unveiling of the production Infiniti EX35 compact coupe crossover. Introduced in New York as the EX Concept back in April, the car won us over with its appealing styling and gorgeous interior. Happily, both have made the transition to production unscathed. The exterior styling fits right in with the brand's current offerings, and brave Felix Unger types with a passion for keeping things clean will no doubt be thrilled to have the available light cream-colored leather interior shown in the gallery. As with the concept, the IP hood is wrapped in a stitched leather, and black lacquer or maple wood trim adorn the center stack and console. Fans of cloth seating are in luck, too, as its available in the EX.

As was announced by Infiniti in New York, the car arrives with the same 3.5L VQ featured in the G35, and it's tuned to make "over 290 horsepower" here in the EX. Shifts come via a 5-speed automatic. The concept's trick 4-camera Around View Monitor parking assistance system is on the list of available options, and the 60/40 split rear seat has a power folding feature that can be performed from the cockpit or the rear of the car. The other nifty new addition is a scratch-resistant, self-healing finish. Finally, the expected raft of luxury and safety features is, of course, available. Finally, the EX will also be offered in Europe as Nissan establishes the brand there.

This was one of our favorites in concept trim, and if you throw out the show car's magic roof, what you'll see in dealer showrooms is fundamentally the same. That's really good, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel. The US on-sale date will be sometime in December of this year. We've included both production and concept galleries below for your comparison.

[Source: Infiniti]

The EX Concept is one of those concept-in-name-only vehicles automakers love to trot out at auto shows throughout the year. Sure, the concept car's gee-whiz liquid crystal roof won't make it to production, but just about everything else will when it bows in showrooms later this year as the EX35 (assuming the engine info Nissan Sport magazine's sources provided is accurate). "E" comes before "F," and appropriately, the EX will be slotted just below its slightly larger brother, the FX35/45. As its likely nomenclature suggests, the EX would be powered by a 3.5L V6. It sits on a 112" wheelbase and (the concept car, at least) rolls on a set of 19" wheels and tires.

In the looks department, the EX grafts the new G35's face onto a crossover body. Overall, the look is very tidy and appealing -- moreso than the angrier-looking FX. We haven't got shots of the interior yet, but expect to see the usual level of detail with the new Infiniti products. We'll have more on the EX for you next week from New York. From the looks of things, Infiniti's going to have a winner on its hands when it materializes in dealerships.

UPDATE: High-res photos added to gallery, press release after the jump

[Sources: Nissan Sport Magazine, Infiniti]

Rolls-Royce is set to take the wraps off a new convertible at the Detroit Motor Show less than two weeks from now, and have leaked a few photos to get our Spirits of Ecstasy flying. Although the name is not yet officially known, most insiders predict a revival of the Corniche nameplate for this grand cabriolet that picks up where the show-stopping 100EX concept car left off in 2004.

As can be seen from the press photos, some of the highly unique features from the show car have made it into the pre-production version. One of the most intriguing is the classic speedboat-style teak boot-lid under which the power soft-top will stow. The sinister LED headlights have also carried through, as has the stunning brushed-aluminum hood section (as unlikely as it was predicted that it would make it to production). The suicide doors are also there, granting elegant access to the world-class cabin with what looks like ample room, front and back. The trunk also has a unique split opening, one section folding down like a tailgate and another up like a conventional trunk lid.

Aside from the images, which you can check out after the jump, no details were released, but we can reasonably expect it will carry the 6.75-liter V12 and six-speed auto-box from its sister saloon the Phantom.

[Source: Rolls-Royce via AutoWeek.nl]