Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale has been revealed as a new all-electric coachbuilt roadster that will be limited to 100 examples worldwide. It is the first model in the marque’s new Coachbuild Collection and, while still described as a production concept, the design is said to be largely locked in ahead of testing later in 2026. Client deliveries are expected to begin in 2028.
Rolls-Royce says the fully electric powertrain has been chosen for its near-silent running, as one of the aims of the project was to create a relaxing open-top driving experience.
“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 – an experience that only this technology makes possible. Achieving this required the same audacious mindset that drove our co-founder, Sir Henry Royce, to create his radically different experimental ‘EX’ motor cars of the 1920s. Project Nightingale shares the spirit of those landmark projects and is the most extravagant expression of what Rolls-Royce is capable of today.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
That idea of silence has also influenced the interior of Project Nightingale. During early prototype drives, designers noticed how clearly birdsong could be heard, which helped inspire the “Starlight Breeze” cabin. This features 10,500 tiny illuminated stars and is said to be based on the soundwave patterns of a nightingale’s song.
Visually, Project Nightingale takes plenty of inspiration from Rolls-Royce’s history. Its long bonnet, low windscreen, and tapered rear end reference the brand’s experimental EX cars from the 1920s, while Art Deco and Streamline Moderne influences shape the overall look. At 5.76 metres long, it is about the size of a Phantom, although this one is strictly a two-seater.
“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. For me, this landmark motor car feels both inevitable and completely unexpected, and it will shape everything that follows.”
Domagoj Dukec, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
To give you an idea of how big this car actually is, the stainless steel Pantheon grille is almost a metre wide, the wheels are 24 inches, and Rolls-Royce says they are the largest ever fitted to one of its cars.
Project Nightingale will be hand-built at Goodwood, with each example individually specified for its owner. Access to the car is by invitation only, with customers taking part in a multi-year design and commissioning programme that includes private events and close collaboration with the marque. Exclusive colours and materials will also be reserved solely for this project.
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