Cadillac’s Electric Sollei Concept Is The Future Of Convertible Luxury
Cream of the crop.
With the “all-electric ultra-luxury” Celestiq sedan—the most expensive Caddy ever—currently in production, the General Motors-owned automaker has turned its attention to the future of two-seated luxury. The Sollei’s name may be a portmanteau of the Spanish word for sun and a shortening of the word “leisure”—Cadillac calls it “an optimistic inspiration for open-air, leisurely lifestyle.” Its figure may be reminiscent of the Bentley Continental GT Azure’s, perhaps intentionally so.
But for Caddy fans, the Sollei’s coupe configuration and classic “Manila Cream” paint coat will likely inspire memories of the Coupe DeVille, a sort of American luxobarge that reigned as the largest Caddy offering until its nameplate was retired and the Escalade SUV debuted. Cadillac itself bills the Sollei as the “ultimate design expression of a coach-built luxury electric convertible,” which will ring true for as long as the Rolls-Royce Spectre keeps its top on.
As Cadillac notes, the body is elongated, the door is sizable, and the A-line is stretched, all in the service of making the Sollei as grand as possible. Being a concept, Cadillac implemented several cool and unconventional elements. For instance, the door handles have been replaced with buttons, and the convertible metallic roof fabric is called “Daybreak” in a nod to its function.
The interior features sunburst-themed lighting that shines in multiple zones and 126 different color options, pink Nappa leather, “Aurora” tint on metal finishes that color-shift like solar winds, and a fully integrated beverage chiller equipped with a power glass door and crystal glasses. And, like the Rolls-Royce Droptails, the interior wood was hand-cut and hand-laid in the front doors, the console and interior.
Cadillac adds that the Sollei is “first concept vehicle to incorporate an innovative bio-based material developed in collaboration with MycoWorks. Used in the charging mats on the console and the door map pockets, Fine Mycelium by MycoWorks is ushering in a new era of luxury materials grown from mycelium (the renewable root structure of mushrooms). The material reflects Cadillac’s mission to pioneer renewable automotive resources.”
Cadillac didn’t just design and render Sollei; the brand built and unveiled it at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan. Given that, chances seem good that we’ll see a version of the Sollei on the road in the not-so-distant future.
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