Rolls-Royce Announces New-Tech Small Turbine Engine Program - AVweb
Rolls-Royce (R-R) announced yesterday, June 19, it is ready to begin testing on a small, as yet unnamed gas turbine engine designed specifically for
avweb.comRolls‑Royce “Project Nightingale” is a newly revealed, ultra‑limited, all‑electric coachbuilt convertible that launched this week; 100 will be made, with first customer cars expected around 2028.[1][2][3]
What Nightingale is
- It is Rolls‑Royce’s first Coachbuild Collection electric model, sitting above regular production cars in exclusivity and price.[3][4][1]
- The car is a two‑seat, all‑electric drop‑top inspired by the brand’s 1920s experimental “EX” high‑speed prototypes and Art Deco Streamline Moderne design.[2][4][5][1]
- The name comes from “Le Rossignol” (“the nightingale” in French), the name of a house on Henry Royce’s Côte d’Azur estate used by designers and engineers.[5][1][3]
Design and key features
- Nightingale has a very upright, monolithic front end with distinctive vertical headlights, a departure from traditional Rolls‑Royce styling.[1][2][3]
- Long, smooth flanks are accented by stainless‑steel bands that sweep into slim twin‑piece LED tail-lamps; the body is longer (and likely heavier) than a Cullinan SUV.[2][1]
- It rides on 24‑inch wheels, the largest yet fitted to a Rolls‑Royce road car.[1]
- The convertible roof uses a special sound‑deadening construction with cashmere, fabric and advanced composites to keep the cabin very quiet.[1]
Electric powertrain and performance
- Rolls‑Royce confirms Nightingale is fully electric but has not yet disclosed detailed power, battery or range figures.[3][2][1]
- Executives suggest it uses newer EV technology than today’s Spectre and will likely offer range and charging “in that ballpark,” implying roughly 300 miles of range and 200 kW‑plus DC fast‑charging.[2][1]
- Media reports describe it as near‑silent in operation, focusing on serene, open‑top cruising rather than outright performance numbers.[4]
Pricing, production and availability
- Only 100 Nightingales will be built worldwide, each individually coachbuilt and offered strictly by invitation to top clients.[4][5][3][2][1]
- Australian coverage and TV reports quote an indicative price of more than about 6.5 million dollars per car (before personalisation).[6]
- Nightingale is described as a “production concept”: global testing begins this summer, with deliveries to clients starting from 2028.[5][4][2]
Quick reference table
| Aspect | What’s known now |
|---|---|
| Type | Coachbuilt, ultra‑luxury electric two‑seat convertible[1][4][3] |
| Powertrain | Fully electric, tech beyond current Spectre, specs not yet published[1][2][3] |
| Units | 100 cars worldwide, invite‑only clients[1][5][4][2][3] |
| Design influences | 1920s EX prototypes, Art Deco, Streamline Moderne forms[1][5][4][2] |
| Wheels | 24‑inch, largest ever on a Rolls‑Royce[1] |
| Timing | Testing from 2026, first customer deliveries from 2028[5][2] |
| Indicative price | More than about $6.5 million per car (reported)[6] |
If you’re interested, I can pull together a short buyer‑style brief (pros/cons, who it suits, likely collectability) based on what’s been announced so far.