Rolls-Royce tests cashmere roof of $80°C electric convertible — InsideEVs
Rolls-Royce has begun road testing the Project Nightingale electric convertible, limited to a series of 100 cars. One of the program’s tasks is to test a retractable roof with cashmere upholstery, which must withstand temperatures of up to 80°C, InsideEVs reports.
Roof and trunk
Ten separate procedures are planned for the roof. They will test the fabrics, the closing mechanism, and the roof’s operation in hot and cold conditions.
The company is also testing the Piano Boot, a side-opening trunk that Rolls-Royce calls the first such solution for its vehicles. As part of the tests, it will be opened and closed 15,000 times.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Road and high-speed testing
The first working prototypes are already undergoing testing in Southern Europe. Several Project Nightingale cars will collectively spend 350 weeks on the road: routes will run from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle and the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula.
The prototypes must withstand extreme temperatures and climbs to 2,750 meters above sea level. Another 1,430 hours are planned for aerodynamic modeling and wind tunnel testing. During tests at speeds of up to 250 km/h, engineers will assess a specially developed electric wind deflector designed to reduce turbulence in the cabin.
Platform and expected specifications
Project Nightingale is the first model in the Coachbuild Collection. The car is built on the aluminum spaceframe Architecture of Luxury, also used by the electric two-door Spectre coupe. According to the publication, the model is expected to receive a dual-motor powertrain producing more than 600 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. The price has not been disclosed, and deliveries are planned for 2028.
