Rolls-Royce has begun drive-testing its highly exclusive Project Nightingale, moving the electric convertible into a major stage of development as the British automaker targets customer deliveries in 2028.
Theannouncementmarks the start of an extensive testing program that will expose prototypes to some of the world’s most demanding environments.
Project Nightingale has already undergone extensive development work, but Rolls-Royce is now putting prototypes through real-world driving tests. The program will begin on the Mediterranean corniches of Southern Europe before expanding to extreme climates around the globe.
Only 100 examples ofProject Nightingaleare planned, making it a highly exclusive Rolls-Royce. It is also the company’s first invite-only Coachbuild Collection model, allowing selected customers to commission avehiclebuilt around the marque’s bespoke design philosophy.
Built around electric power
Despite its traditional proportions, Project Nightingale uses a fully electric powertrain. Rolls-Royce says the system delivers the quiet operation expected from its vehicles while giving the open-top model a modern power source. The convertible is roughly the same size as the V-12-powered Phantom.
A showcase of craftsmanship
Rolls-Royce sees the model as a demonstration of its coachbuilding capabilities. The company has spent more than 120 years developing bespoke vehicles, and Project Nightingale gives its designers and engineers a platform to apply those skills to a contemporary electric model.
350 weeks of testing
The testing campaign will span a combined 350 weeks. Rolls-Royce plans to examine the vehicle across different driving conditions and environments before customer deliveries begin. The lengthy schedule reflects the level of validation expected for a limited-production flagship.
Trunk faces 15,000 cycles
Even the convertible's trunk is undergoing an intensive durability test. Engineers will open and close it 15,000 times to verify that the mechanism continues to operate smoothly. Such testing is intended to ensure the car maintains its refined operation after years of use.
From Arctic cold to desert heat
After testing in Southern Europe, Project Nightingale prototypes will travel to the Arctic Circle and the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. These locations will expose the electric vehicle to severe cold and intense heat as Rolls-Royce evaluates its performance across contrasting climates.
Rolls-Royce targets 2028
Chris Brownridge, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said Project Nightingale has demanded significant effort from the teams developing it. "That is why Project Nightingale is being tested with the same rigor with which it was imagined," Brownridge said, highlighting the scale of the validation program.
A multimillion-dollar price
Rolls-Royce has not announced an official price for Project Nightingale. Road & Track reported around the time of its debut that each example could cost approximately $9.5 million. That figure would put the convertible well below the reported $30 million price of the four-unit Droptail while keeping it firmly within the ultra-luxury segment.
