Rolls-Royce has released the first images and details of its so-called Project Nightingale "production concept”, an all-electric convertible that will be available to 100 invite-only customers as part of the company's first Coachbuild Collection vehicle.
Wowzers!
Indeed, the Nightingale (as we shall refer to it from here on in) is dramatic in the extreme, starting with its dimensions.
At 5.76 metres long, it's effectively the same length as the Rolls-Royce Phantom saloon, and its Pantheon Grille is nearly a metre wide. In spite of its generous proportions, however, this car has seating for just the driver and their passenger.
It looks suitably special inside...
Given the exterior drama, Rolls-Royce's interior designers have been remarkably restrained. The 'coach doors' are hinged at the rear, allowing easy access to the luxurious cabin.
A new interpretation of the company's Starlight Headliner is found in the shape of the Starlight Breeze, comprising of 10,500 individual 'stars' found in the doors and surrounding the seats. The pattern and flow of this ambient light effect was inspired by a nightingale's song and "draws directly from the soundwave forms studied by the designers.”
In terms of materials used inside, there's leather for the door cards, steering wheel and electrically sliding centre armrest. The latter moves to reveal a jewel-like rotary controller, while even the cupholders are machined from aluminium billet.
The interior hues are said to evoke the atmosphere of the Côte d'Azur. The seats are finished in soft pastel Charles Blue, paired with a warm Grace White tone and Deep Navy seat inserts, while flashes of Peony Pink appear within the fascia surround and headrests, referencing the wild blooms of the Riviera. All this contrasts with Openpore Blackwood laid in a 'V' shape that opens upwards.
The exterior paint looks a bit special, too
Agreed. The pale blue was inspired by the colour of the 1928 Rolls-Royce 17EX, and the company references that era's experimental cars extensively in its description of Project Nightingale. The paint actually has red flakes in it that are visible in certain lights.
The design sketches for the car clearly show how those early EX models inspired its form, and it shares its special red badging with those, too.
An upright grille sets the tone, mirrored by slender, vertical headlights. The images show a recess in the grille surround to accommodate the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which melds with a sculpted central channel in the bonnet. We like how Rolls-Royce describes this: "as though the figurine is moving at speed through water, and the metalwork is parting gently around her.”
One of the defining features of the Nightingale is the polished stainless-steel style of the bands running from the tops of the headlights to the scalpel-sharp rear lamps. A second band starts above the rear wheels.
Those rims are a massive 24 inches in diameter and styled to evoke a yacht's propeller. You won't be surprised to hear that's not the only reference to sailing in the Rolls-Royce press release.
It also manages to align the Nightingale with a grand piano thanks to the so-called Piano Boot, opening sideways. The volume for luggage space isn't quoted, but we do know that there's space behind the seats for extra storage.
While Project Nightingale undeniably references the past, it's a thoroughly modern machine, built on the company's Architecture of Luxury aluminium spaceframe. What's more, there's carbon fibre found in the front apron, side sills and in the Aero Afterdeck (aka aerodynamic diffuser) at the back.
Not to mention its electric propulsion...
You've been paying attention. Rolls-Royce hasn't released any technical information on the powertrain for the Nightingale as yet, other than confirming it will be fully electric. It's fair to assume it will use a development of the Spectre's dual-motor system, which puts out up to 659hp and 1,075Nm of torque in Black Badge specification.
Where did the name come from?
In Henry Royce's French Riviera estate, the designers have a house called Le Rossignol, which means the nightingale.