Rolls-Royce Unveils Project Nightingale: A New Era of Electric Coachbuilding
Rolls-Royce has officially revealed Project Nightingale, an all-electric open-top model that heralds the beginning of the brand's Coachbuild Collection. This highly exclusive series will be limited to just 100 hand-built examples worldwide, with first customer deliveries scheduled for 2028. The two-seat convertible, described as a production concept, appears remarkably production-ready, with a global testing and validation programme set to commence this summer.
Exclusive Access and Historical Inspiration
Access to the Project Nightingale programme will be strictly by invitation only, targeting what Rolls-Royce describes as clients with "a deep affinity" for the brand's design heritage. The Nightingale name originates from 'Le Rossignol', a house on Henry Royce's French Riviera estate where designers and engineers once worked. The car draws significant inspiration from the marque's experimental 'EX' models of the late 1920s, which were created to push performance boundaries of that era.
Chris Brownridge, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, stated: "Some of the most discerning Rolls-Royce clients in the world asked us for our most ambitious work. We responded by bringing three things together that have never coexisted within our brand: the complete design freedom of coachbuilding, our powerful, near-silent all-electric powertrain, and a uniquely potent yet serene expression of open-top motoring."
Design and Technical Specifications
Measuring 5,760mm in length, similar to a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Project Nightingale features a dramatically different layout focused on a two-seat, open-top format. The design is heavily influenced by Streamline Moderne principles, characterized by long, uninterrupted surfaces and what the company calls a "sheer, monolithic" aesthetic. The car's proportions are dominated by a long bonnet and tapered rear, with a compact cabin set deep within the body.
Domagoj Dukec, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Director of Design, explained: "Project Nightingale is built on the design principles that define this marque at its most compelling – grand proportions, absolute surface discipline, and a clarity of line that rewards the closest attention. And yet, it takes them somewhere entirely new."
Notable design elements include a single uninterrupted "central fuselage" line running from front to rear, 24-inch wheels (the largest ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce), and a bold Pantheon grille. The fully electric powertrain has allowed designers to rethink traditional proportions, eliminating the need for large cooling intakes and enabling smoother, uninterrupted surfacing.
Interior Innovation and Customisation
The interior showcases the 'Starlight Breeze' feature, incorporating 10,500 illuminated elements inspired by the soundwaves of birdsong – a subtle nod to the Nightingale name. This lighting creates what Rolls-Royce describes as a "celestial field" wrapping around occupants. Materials and detailing will be tailored to each individual customer through a multi-year commissioning process that includes curated events and direct client input into final specifications.
Each of the 100 cars will be meticulously hand-built at the Rolls-Royce factory in Goodwood. The company emphasizes that this project represents the beginning of a new chapter for its most exclusive creations, seamlessly blending traditional coachbuilding heritage with an all-electric future. Further technical details about performance, range, and powertrain specifications are expected to be released as the development programme progresses.
