Cadillac unveil ‘Sollei’ concept

Following their Celestiq luxury EV sedan that was previewed in 2022 and entered production earlier this year, Cadillac have unveiled a possible convertible companion in the form of the Sollei concept. Described as “the ultimate design expression of a coachbuilt luxury electric convertible,” the Sollei also previews what Celestiq customers can commission for their vehicles through Cadillac’s in-house tailoring progamme.

The name of the concept - a combination of sun ‘Sol’ and Leisure ‘Lei’ - is said to represent the car’s open-air, leisurely lifestyle.  

“Sollei reimagines the discovery of travel, envisioning a personalised driving experience that connects one with the natural world around them,” said Erin Crossley, design director, Cadillac. “The concept celebrates Cadillac’s pedigree of elegant convertibles in a modern form by cultivating high luxury through design expressions and experiences.” 

Future and Past

Combining modern developments with historic inspiration, Sollei is the first Cadillac to utilise ‘Fine Mycelium’ material. Applied to the door map pockets and charging mats on the centre console, this renewable material is grown from the root structures of mushrooms. Developed in collaboration with MycoWorks, the use of Fine Mycelium is said to reflect Cadillac’s mission of pioneering renewable resources for the automotive industry.

Looking back to iconic Cadillacs of the past, the Sollei is finished in Manila Cream paint, a colour originally offered in 1957 and ’58. This was reformulated using new millennium materials and methods, then applied by hand to the concept.

From the A-pillar forward, the Sollei is identical to the Celestiq, but where the Celestiq is a four-door fastback sedan, the Sollei is a two-door convertible, with the rear end appearing to wrap around the 2+2 cabin in an unbroken curve. Long doors allow easy access into the rear seat area, while the door handles have been replaced with buttons to achieve a clean profile.

Subtle creases feature in the flanks, while at the rear, a narrow tail light strip is augmented with blade-like lighting elements that continue from a lower sill line and rise up at the rear quarters. This mirrors the headlight treatment and, according to Cadillac, emphasises the vehicle’s length and creates dynamic, yet elegant proportions.  

Wheels are 23-inch and of a different design to that found on the Celestiq, with a mirrored silver finish, while the fabric for the convertible roof is called ‘Daybreak’ and features a metallic finish.

Sunburst Interior

Inside the Sollei, the standout design element is the application of timber veneers on the rear of the seats, the full-length centre console and along the upper portion of the doors and rear passenger area. Using marquetry techniques seen on furniture, different shades of timber have been applied in a pattern that radiates from the bottom of the seats and out from the A-pillar, creating a sunburst effect in keeping with the concept’s name and inspiration. All the timber has been left unstained, so the grain is tactile and porous.

The windscreen is framed in brushed aluminium, but metal finishes throughout the cabin are minimal. Those that are used feature an “Aurora” tint that changes colour in different light to “reflect the phenomenon of the sun's solar winds reacting with the earth's atmosphere”.

Nappa leather seats and most of the interior surfaces are finished in the same Manila Cream as the exterior. Seat faces subtly repeat the sunburst motif from the seat backs and include an iridescent pink pigment that changes colour, producing a sunrise effect when viewed in daylight. The floormats are made from ‘Bask,’ a boucle (textured) fabric that’s like carpet but softer and more tactile.

Luxuries integrated into the concept’s full-length centre console include a chilled drinks cabinet with a power-operated door, storage for crystal glasses and a brushed metal and leather-wrapped case for ‘bird watchers’. This houses 3D printed acrylic bird calls, a leather-bound journal with hand painted bird illustrations and a leather tool roll for pens and pencils. Made to match the vehicle interior, this quirky feature allows enthusiasts “to capture their bird-watching experiences”.

Overall, the interior’s Art Deco look, especially that sunburst timber treatment, is a nod to the period when coachbuilt Cadillacs were some of the finest vehicles available.

High-tech Interior

Ahead of the driver and passenger, a screen that runs the full width of the cabin is taken directly from the Celestiq. Measuring 1,397mm wide, the screen is split into two – for driver and front seat passenger - offering a range of vehicle and infotainment information for both. This is augmented with a large centre console touchscreen, while rear seat passengers have a smaller touchscreen at their fingertips.

There’s also multiple-zone ambient lighting that offers 126 different colour options per zone.

Future Model?

While Cadillac describe the Sollei as a concept, its origins in the Celestiq make a production version seem likely, reinforced by the fact it uses the same front end, wheelbase and presumably the same drivetrain as that sedan. Although no mention was made of the Sollei’s running gear at the time of its unveiling, Cadillac officials have since stated the Sollei sits on the same Ultium EV platform as the Celestiq.

Given that the Celestiq lists for US$340,000, any production version of the Sollei is likely to cost US$500,000 or more.