Rolls-Royce has unveiled Project Nightingale, its boldest foray yet into true coachbuilding.
This open two-seater production concept marks the debut of the brand’s new Coachbuild Collection, a highly exclusive program that blends handcrafted, one-of-a-kind bodywork with the marque’s all-electric architecture.
Only 100 examples will ever be built, and they’re available strictly by invitation to a select group of clients who have demonstrated a deep affinity for Rolls-Royce design and craftsmanship.
A modern take on 1920s glamour
Named after Le Rossignol (“the nightingale” in French), the villa where Rolls-Royce designers and engineers once gathered near co-founder Sir Henry Royce’s winter home on the Côte d’Azur, Project Nightingale channels the confidence and elegance of the 1920s and 1930s while embracing contemporary luxury.
Its design draws heavily from the marque’s experimental “EX” cars of the late 1920s, particularly the high-speed 16EX and 17EX models.
These torpedo-shaped machines featured long bonnets, shallow windscreens, and enveloping cabins, optimised for speeds exceeding 90 mph.
Project Nightingale echoes that spirit with grand proportions: a 5.76-meter-long body, a near one-meter-wide Pantheon grille carved from stainless steel, and a dramatic, monolithic aesthetic inspired by Streamline Moderne principles.
Key exterior highlights include:
- A single, unbroken “central fuselage” hull line running from front to rear.
- Sculptural “flying wings” volumes that create visual tension.
- Massive 24-inch wheels (the largest ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce), styled like yacht propellers.
- An innovative “Aero Afterdeck” carbon-fiber diffuser at the rear, made possible by the electric powertrain’s lack of traditional exhaust components.
- Subtle red badges nodding to the historic EX cars, along with polished stainless-steel accents and a paint finish reminiscent of the Côte d’Azur.
The car rides on Rolls-Royce’s Architecture of Luxury aluminum spaceframe and will be hand-built at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England.
Its fully electric drivetrain promises near-silent operation, creating what the company describes as a “uniquely silent open-top experience”.
An interior inspired by birdsong
Inside, the two-seat cabin feels more like a private suite than a traditional cockpit. The highlight is the Starlight Breeze headliner: over 10,500 individually placed “stars” in three different sizes, arranged in patterns derived from the soundwave of a nightingale’s song. T
his celestial display wraps around occupants, framed by a sculptural “Horseshoe” element rising behind the seats.
Materials include soft pastel Charles Blue and Grace White leathers with Deep Navy inserts and Peony Pink accents, open-pore Blackwood veneers in a “V” configuration, and jewelled rotary controls limited to just five.
A split saddle-style armrest conceals a Spirit of Ecstasy rotary controller, while the sound-deadening roof blends cashmere, fabric, and high-performance composites to maintain tranquility whether the top is up or down.
The design emphasizes long, unhurried journeys, with hidden compartments, machined aluminum details, and leather door cards overlaid like saddles.
More than just a car
Project Nightingale is the first model in Rolls-Royce’s new Coachbuild Collection, a multi-year program that goes beyond traditional bespoke commissions. Clients don’t simply order the car, they’re invited into an immersive journey involving private gatherings, curated events, and close collaboration with designers and engineers to personalise their vehicle.
This invitation-only approach ensures each of the 100 cars reflects the owner’s individual vision, character, and taste. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2028, following global testing and validation that starts in summer 2025.
Further engineering details on the electric powertrain will be released as development progresses.
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