Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has officially unveiled Project Nightingale, the first collection under its new bespoke luxury vehicle program, the Coachbuild Collection. This project is not just a new car offered by the luxury British brand, but a vision that combines complete design freedom, an advanced and modern electric drive and a tradition of bespoke bodywork, returning the brand to its most ambitious roots.
The designers drew inspiration for the Nightingale from historical experimental models from the 1920s, specifically the 16EX and 17EX prototypes from 1928. These cars were created at the height of the “Jazz Age”, to push the boundaries of speed and elegance in that era. Just like its predecessors a hundred years ago, the Nightingale project bears distinctive red emblems, symbolizing the innovative character and technical excellence advocated by the company’s co-founder sir Henry Royce.
Aesthetics of monolithic beauty
The design language of the new model is defined by the principles of aesthetics from the period of modern and late Art Deco style, and is characterized by clean, uninterrupted lines and monolithic volumes. With a length of 5.76 meters, the Nightingale shares the proportions of the Phantom model, but in the form of an open two-seater. The front part is dominated by the monumental radiator grille, almost a meter wide and made from a single block of stainless steel, while the headlights are positioned vertically.
The profile of the car evokes the torpedo-shape of historic cruisers with an extremely long hood and a low windshield. The characteristic hull line visually separates the upper and lower parts of the vehicle, similar to the design of luxury yachts, while the rear ends with an innovative carbon fiber diffuser. Special attention is drawn to the 24-inch wheels, the largest ever mounted on a Rolls-Royce, whose design simulates movement even when the vehicle is stationary.
Quiet as a nightingale
The heart of the Nightingale project is an all-electric drive that enables almost noiseless movement, which is key to the experience of driving in an open convertible. According to engineers, the absence of mechanical noise allows passengers to completely blend in with their surroundings, listening only to the sounds of nature, such as the wind or birds. It was this silence that encouraged the designers to interpret the rhythms of nightingales in the interior of the vehicle. nightingale) sings through visual patterns of sound waves.
The exclusivity of this model is emphasized by the fact that it will be produced in only 100 copies. Purchase is possible by invitation only, and is intended for clients with a deep affinity for the brand’s design, but (quite clearly) also with deep pockets – although the price has not been announced. Future owners will be involved in a multi-year program to monitor the development of their vehicles, while the first deliveries to customers are planned from 2028, following the completion of an extensive global testing program that begins this summer.
“Project Nightingale is built on the design principles that define this marque at its most compelling – grandiose proportions, absolute discipline of surfaces and clarity of lines that reward even the most attentive gaze. And yet, it takes them in a completely new direction. To me, this historic car feels both inexorable and completely unexpected, as if it will shape everything that follows,” he stated. Domagoj Đukecdesign director at Rolls-Royce, previously known as the first designer of BMW, who moved to this brand with the aim of developing such luxury small series.