Project Nightingale Brings Electric Open-Air Driving to Rolls-Royce in a Bold New Way

Rolls-Royce debuts its first vehicle in the Coachbuild Collection, as well as its first electric convertible, Project Nightingale. They’ve packed a lot into this $9.5-million two-seater open-top vehicle, approximately 19 feet from front to back, which is the same length as the Phantom sedan. The idea is for it to operate just as smoothly with the top down as with it up. In 2028, 100 of these will roll off the lot and into the hands of their new owners, provided that those owners are invited to commission one of them in the first place, and deliveries will begin following some summer testing.

The design is heavily inspired by Rolls-Royce’s experimental automobiles from the 1920s, including the 16EX and 17EX. Project Nightingale updates the style with one long single line that runs from front to rear like a yacht cutting through the waves. The car’s front end features a massive stainless steel Pantheon grille that takes up about a meter of space, complete with 24 vertical vanes and an incorporated Spirit of Ecstasy that appears to be sailing backwards. The headlamps are narrow, and they run beside some gleaming metal bars that reach all the way along the car’s side. Out back, the design tapers out like a boat stern, with some right angle lighting and a carbon fiber diffuser to keep the car stable at high speeds without the obtrusiveness of spoilers.

The 24 inch wheels on this car are larger than any other on a Rolls-Royce in history. The design was inspired by yacht propellers, and it features some interesting machined elements as well as dazzling aluminum flakes that shine when illuminated. Don’t mess about with the door knobs however, for they lay flat until you need them, only bursting into action when the time is right. Then there’s this clever little detail in the back, as the trunk known as the Piano Boot pulls open on a hinge, revealing some much-needed storage space, as well as a brake light. It’s all so smooth, even when the automobile is sitting stationary.


Clients who drop the soft top can enjoy traveling in near silence thanks to the car’s electric powertrain. The roof is composed of cashmere, fabric, and some smart composite layers that filter off wind noise while allowing natural noises to enter the shelter. The designers primarily wanted people to be able to hear birds singing or waves breaking rather than a dreary mechanical hum. Raising the roof completely alters the profile, resulting in this elegant coupe. Underneath it all are some pretty cutting-edge parts, like an aluminum spaceframe that provides plenty of support for the bodywork, and every single panel is hand-finished at the Goodwood factory to ensure those lines are silky smooth.



Inside, you’ll find a cabin that wraps around two people, with super-soft pastel leather and open-pore wood trim placed in a subtle V form, which is very pleasant. Then there’s the lighting, which consists of 10,500 individual lights that cover the doors, headliner, and seating surfaces. Each one is different in size, and their pattern is based on the sound forms of a nightingale singing, as it was recorded during an early test drive, so it all creates this gorgeous glow that alters as the car drives. With the stroke of a button, the center console swings back to reveal the Spirit of Ecstasy controller, a couple of polished aluminum cup holders, and a small storage box. There’s also a little shelf in the back with space for some light luggage. The controls are minimal, with only five rotary dials that appear to be made of precious metal.



Every little aspect stems from the Coachbuild process, which allows selected clients to become deeply involved for years. They are invited to exclusive gatherings and events where designers and engineers demonstrate all of the various options available to them, including as paint, leather, and trim. The automobile pictured here has Côte d’Azur Blue paint with little red flakes that resemble the originals from the 1920s, a silver soft top, and interior colors of Charles Blue, Grace White, Deep Navy, and Peony Pink accents. Each one is unique since these automobiles are reserved for people who are passionate about history and have an eye for the strange.
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