It’s no secret that Cadillac wants to reclaim the image it once had in the American luxury market. Although the $340,000 Celestiq sedan marked the first serious step on that journey, the brand’s designers have been hard at work on the automaker’s latest jaw-dropping project. Known as the Cadillac Sollei Concept, the two-door convertible, revealed on Monday, is similar to Cadillac’s flagship models of the past.
While drop-tops have long been an integral part of Cadillac’s image, the brand hasn’t sold a convertible in a long time. Outside of the Corvette-based XLR with its hard-top, Cadillac hasn’t offered a real change since 1976. And while the Sollei remains a concept car for now, it is clear that we will not have to wait another fifty years. for the next roofless Cadillac. An open experience is at the heart of this design project, with the name itself a portmanteau of “sol” and “attitude”. (Pronounced like Cirque du Soleil). Senior Vice President of Global Design Michael Simcoe went so far as to acknowledge Caddy’s continued high-profile convertible expectations among customers.
The concept itself is a racing car, based on the brand’s Ultium platform which also underpins the Celestiq. In fact, the Sollei shares almost everything with the sedan before the A-pillars. Like the production sedan, the Sollei is a big machine, but its features are traditional. The overhangs are much shorter than the Celestiq’s, eliminating the awkward rear end. The massive 68-inch doors provide access to four cabin seats, and fill the entire center section of the vehicle. The bodywork of this model is made of a combination of carbon fiber and fiberglass, with a focus on minimal shapes.
“Not many designers would have the opportunity to do something like this,” Exterior Designer Takahiko Suginoshita said. R&T. “It’s kind of a one-time project. So when I was told about this project, I was really excited. Of course, Cadillac has this heritage, so we wanted to make sure we kept that heritage, “But we’re still looking at the future. I think the next step is to be more focused. We want to embrace all the details.”
The exterior work starts with the nose, which features sunburst lighting elements. The rear lights also lend to this theme, and are one of the defining elements of the exterior design. The metalwork throughout is authentic, finished in the unique Aurora color. These features are chosen over the traditional “chrome” style – something that has now been phased out by some manufacturers, such as Stellantis. There is not a trace of plastic throughout the entire concept, which is worthy of its place on the list. The massive 23-inch wheels certainly look like chrome, however, and are linked to the brand’s heyday in the 1950s. Even the outer color of Manila Cream is drawn right from the 1958 catalog. The color is represented as it was, without the addition of any modern flake.
The same cannot be said of the yellow Nappa leather interior, with a vivid pink finish. This is believed to allow certain colors to change under different lighting, reminiscent of the colors of a sunset. Of course, it can be difficult to notice those details with the beautiful wood around you. The Sollei features five different hand-carved wood veneers across the doors, seats, and console surfaces. The model itself is based on the sun and brings a real art-deco vibe inside. It looks very expensive, but it’s something we’d love to see go into a production Cadillac. You will also find a cool bespoke set with exclusive Sollei glassware, in the same pink color as the chairs. Due to the current popularity of bird watching, Caddy has also added to Sollei a series of bird calls, with paintings of different types of birds. That’s definitely a feature you won’t find in the Spectre. The electronics are borrowed from the Celestiq, but the 55-inch screen comes with bespoke graphics for the memory.
While the Sollei is not scheduled to enter production, the car will take to the Pebble Beach lawn later this summer. Cadillac is sure to hear from many affluent buyers of this event, as this item really appeals to the individual. Cadillac executives have made it clear that they are no longer interested in chasing Mercedes-Benz or BMW, and this idea is a big step in that direction. The name Cadillac is more likely to conjure up images of the Eldorado Biarritz than the CT5-V, so maybe it’s time to go back to the days of the Caddys.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, fellow editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. Every day he may drive an old Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.
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