Cadillac Sollei Concept: A bold throwback to vintage glamour

This gorgeous convertible harks back to a time of uncompromising style, promising to usher in a new era of motoring.

In an era dominated by sleek, minimalist and futuristic designs, the Cadillac Sollei is a refreshing concept that redefines the meaning of bold.

This isn’t just another electric vehicle but a rolling homage to the glamour of the past, with a design that pays tribute to the iconic Cadillac convertibles of the 1950s.

But the Solleli is anything but “old fashioned”.

Head of Design Erin Crossley says the Sollei reflects Cadillac’s commitment to luxury, design and performance.

“We use concept vehicles to test the market, and the Sollei represents how far we can go in a bespoke luxury,” she says.

Birds eye view of Cadillac SOLLEI concept vehicle with bespoke Sola Yellow Iridescent interior. Picture: GM DESIGN

It’s clear Cadillac has thrown out the rulebook on this concept.

The Solleli takes the hand-built elegance of Celestiq and transforms it into a two door, four seater convertible, offering a sophisticated silhouette.

Sollei meaning sun, soul and leisure, has an array of sun-themed attributes, including sunburst-themed lighting, sunburst seat patterns and a metallic roof fabric called “Daybreak”.

The vehicle is finished in Manilla cream, a shade straight from the brand’s 1950s colour palette, giving it an air of vintage chic.

The “Aurora” tinted windshield adds a dash of drama, reflecting Cadillac’s desire to marry nostalgia with modern innovation.

Inside the 2024 Cadillac Sollei concept car. Photo: GM DESIGN

Then there are the doors – wide, dramatic, opening nearly 90 degrees with a discrete button integrated into the beltline.

Step inside, and the Solleli is as breathtaking as its exterior.

The interior is adorned with luxury, including a 55-inch pillar to pillar display screen, hand-cut veneer and even a beverage chiller complete with crystal glass.

Decked out with fine materials like Fine Mycelium, a renewable substance derived from mushroom roots.

The use of Bask Fabrice for the floor mats, a material made from fine bouclé yarn, adds another layer of texture and comfort, making the interior feel more like a private lounge than a car.

Interior view of Cadillac SOLLEI concept vehicle with Sunburst Motif pattern seats and crystal glass accessory inside integrated beverage chiller. Picture: GM DESIGN

The level of detail in the interior cabin is unique and eye-catching, as Crossley explained.

“You can see the level of craftsmanship and layering of detail, for instance the five different woods used in the interior are laser holed for speakers and ambient lighting,” she said.

The Solleli also comes with a set of bespoke bird calls for those a fan of bird watching.

As for the power behind this beauty, Cadillac hasn’t released the technical specs yet.

However, if the Cadillac follows in the footsteps of the Celestiq, we can expect a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with impressive performance figures.

The Celestiq boasts 447kW of power and 868 Nm of torque, with a range of 483 km and a 0-6 mph time of just 3.8 seconds.

Whether the Sollei will make it to production remains a mystery but given its recent debut at the Monterey car week, we can assume that Cadillac is testing the waters.

Hopefully, we might see this dream convertible hit the road sooner than later.

Originally published as Cadillac Sollei Concept: A bold throwback to vintage glamour