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All week, car lovers have been talking about the magnificent Cadillac SOLLEI Concept. Cadillac calls the show car a vision of bespoke luxury. Cadillac is quick to point out that the SOLLEI is a concept only, but it shows how designers can work with the new EV platforms to build custom commissioned vehicles. The SOLLEI amazingly is built on the same EV platform as the Cadillac CELESTIQ, but the SOLLEI could not look more different.
How the Cadillac SOLLEI Concept Can Help the Brand
Cadillac has always exemplified the ‘best of the best’. From Elvis buying Cadillacs for his family, to Aretha riding on the “Freeway of Love” in a pink Cadillac, Cadillac has been the symbol of luxury and design. Some of the brand’s luster has faded over the last decade. Only the commanding Cadillac Escalade luxury SUV seems to have that same “Je ne sais quoi”. Cadillac is trying to recapture the magic with the custom CELESTIQ EV, but it doesn’t seem to electrify the buying public the way the older models used to. However, the SOLLEI may conjure up the old magic.
The Cadillac SOLLEI Concept
The SOLLEI concept is gorgeous. It looks like something that Grace Kelly, actress and Princess of Monaco, could have driven. In fact, the woman pictured with the SOLLEI looks very similar to old Grace Kelly photos. The SOLLEI is an all-electric, 2+2 convertible equipped with Cadillac’s signature 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen. Cadillac says its name stands for sun ('SOL') and leisure ('LEI').
“SOLLEI reimagines the discovery of travel, envisioning a personalized 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.”
SOLLEI’s Old School but Modern Design
The SOLLEI’s exterior exudes emotion and embodies Cadillac's unmistakable elegance. The low, elongated body is accentuated by a wide stance and long coupe door. The mid-body line connects the headlamp to the taillight, streamlining the car’s design. Conventional door handles are replaced with buttons preserving the clean profile line.
The exterior is finished in "Manila Cream," a color originally used on Cadillacs in 1957 and 1958. This revived finish was meticulously hand-painted by Cadillac craftsmen.
This car will stand out, no matter where you find it, just like the old Cadillac convertibles. Don’t get me wrong, Cadillac builds lovely cars and SUVS, but this vehicle screams luxury, just like a Corvette screams speed!
The SOLLEI shows what can happen when craftsmanship is at the heart of Cadillac design. Every detail is designed to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. SOLLEI allows the driver to customize the ambient lighting in different parts of the car with 126 color options in each area. The lighting can make the car seem sportier or more romantic. The driver sets the tone and the mood.
SOLLEI Concept Includes Luxurious Details
SOLLEI caters to bird-watching connoisseurs with a unique interior accessory. A custom leather-wrapped case 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 custom match the vehicle interior, allowing enthusiasts to capture their bird-watching experiences. There is also a custom beverage chiller with crystal glasses for just the perfect moments.
SOLLEI Includes Modern Amenities
The SOLLEI uses a new bio-based material developed in collaboration with MycoWorks. Fine Mycelium by MycoWorks is a luxury material grown from mycelium, the renewable root structure of mushrooms. The material reflects Cadillac’s mission to use renewable automotive resources. Charging mats on the console, door map pockets and custom accessories are made from the new material. The convertible’s metallic roof fabric is called "Daybreak". The textured floormat material is called "Bask", a boucle fabric matching the color of the roof material.
The concept was unveiled at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, a newly restored, state-of-the-art facility at GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan, where craftsmen will hand build the $300,000 CELESTIQ. Cadillac won’t say how many people have ordered the CELESTIQ, but I bet a few would rather have the stunning SOLLEI. The SOLLEI cpncept will be used as a show car. It will be sent to various auto shows and high-end auto events to demonstrate what designers can do. The automotive world needs more of that.
Cadillac Photos
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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