Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale Brings Electric Silence to a Two-Seat Open-Top Design

Rolls-Royce is kicking off its Coachbuild Collection with Project Nightingale, an opulent, all-electric roadster that will cost a mind-boggling $9.5-million dollars to drive. Only a hundred examples will be produced by 2028, and to make things even more special, current customers are receiving selective invitations to collaborate with the Goodwood design team to develop their own unique vehicle. Because there is only one chance to impress in this league, the team will provide them with unusual materials and colors not found on any other Rolls-Royce model.

Project Nightingale is inspired by the experimental 16EX and 17EX prototypes built in the late 1920s, which were all about fast speed and lightweight aluminum bodies with a killer red emblem that never failed to turn heads. While paying homage to that era, Project Nightingale adds a modern twist that’s ideal for an electric open-top automobile. This behemoth is over nineteen feet long, the same as the Phantom sedan, but as a two-seater, it’s far more snug and easygoing.



The body is all smooth lines and curves, beginning with the long bonnet and tapering off toward the back. Polished stainless steel strips go from the headlights down the sides and meet up with the split tail lamps at the back, while the Pantheon grille is a massive block of stainless steel just shy of three feet across. Those 24-inch wheels are the widest you’ve ever seen on a Rolls-Royce, and they’re designed in the same directional style as a sailboat propeller, but from underwater. The paint is a unique Côte d’Azur Blue with gorgeous red flakes, as well as silver highlights and a matching soft top. All of this technology is wrapped up in a carbon-fiber diffuser, which keeps airflow neat and tidy without the need for a spoiler, which you wouldn’t need without exhaust pipes.


At the back, you’ll see a single central brake light running along the centerline and a little recessed chrome border around the number plate, all done with accuracy and care. The boot lid swings open horizontally, similar to a grand piano, creating an almost mystical moment. It’s a fuss over a basic action, but there’s something special about it. Door handles just sit flat until you need them, and the indicators are nicely and discreetly integrated into the bodywork.


Stepping inside opens up a whole new world. The cabin is built around these comfortable, horseshoe-shaped seat shapes, and there’s this gorgeous headliner called Starlight Breeze, which is essentially a work of art, with ten thousand five hundred fiber-optic points of various sizes. They’re organized in the shape of a nightingale’s song, resulting in a gorgeous, soft glow across the doors and seats. The roof has been constructed with cashmere, fabric, and some really high-end composites in a whole new sound-deadening substance. It not only blocks out road noise and the lot, but it also allows you to hear the gentle patter of raindrops falling outside.


A leather-clad saddle armrest runs along the center of the cabin, perfectly aligned with the coach line that runs the length of the bonnet. Moving the armrest backwards reveals the Spirit of Ecstasy controller, which is hidden alongside five rotary controllers. Leather upholstery is available in two different colors: Charles Blue and Grace White, with Deep Navy trim and a flash of Peony Pink for visual appeal. Along the dash, there is a V shape created of Openpore Blackwood trim, which adds a touch of elegance. Behind the seats, there’s a little secret storage area ideal for small items of luggage. Meanwhile, an electronic cover allows you to store extra personal items in the console with the easy press of a button.


Project Nightingale uses the same aluminum spaceframe as the rest of the current line. It is powered by the same electric motor as the Spectre, albeit the exact output levels remain a carefully guarded secret. Without the weight of a combustion engine, the designers were able to fully flatten the front end, giving the vehicle a more commanding appearance on the road.