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Today, Cadillac has unveiled its SOLLEI concept vehicle, an electrifying vision of bespoke luxury in the form of a coach-built convertible. This forward-looking design exercise explores the possibilities of custom commissioned vehicles, reflecting the unique passions and interests of its clientele.
The SOLLEI is a testament to Cadillac's commitment to innovation and luxury. This all-electric, 2+2 convertible boasts a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen, a stunning interior, and exterior lighting choreography designed to enhance arrival and departure experiences. The vehicle also features an intuitive front and rear command console, providing a seamless and sophisticated driving experience.
The name SOLLEI, derived from "sun" (SOL) and "leisure" (LEI), embodies Cadillac’s vision of an open-air, leisurely lifestyle. Erin Crossley, Cadillac's design director, emphasized this inspiration, stating that the SOLLEI reimagines travel as a personalized driving experience that connects drivers with the natural world around them. This concept celebrates Cadillac’s heritage of elegant convertibles, reinterpreted in a modern form that exudes high luxury through design expressions and unique experiences.
In a groundbreaking move, SOLLEI is Cadillac’s first concept vehicle to incorporate bio-based materials developed in collaboration with MycoWorks. Fine Mycelium™ by MycoWorks is used in the charging mats on the console and door map pockets, heralding a new era of luxury materials grown from mycelium, the renewable root structure of mushrooms. This innovative material reflects Cadillac’s mission to pioneer renewable automotive resources.
The exterior of the SOLLEI is a masterpiece of sophisticated design and bold proportions. Its low, elongated body, wide stance, and long coupe door create a dynamic yet elegant profile. The clean, uninterrupted surfaces and stretched A-line emphasize the vehicle's length, while the low tail design adds to its sleek proportions. Discreet buttons replace conventional door handles, maintaining the clean profile line.
Paying homage to Cadillac's heritage of bold colors, the SOLLEI's exterior is finished in "Manila Cream," a color originally used on Cadillacs in 1957 and 1958. This revived finish was meticulously curated and hand-painted by Cadillac craftsmen, adding a touch of nostalgia to this futuristic vehicle.
Inside, the SOLLEI channels Cadillac’s “art of travel” design philosophy, transforming the travel experience for both driver and passenger. Features include a fully integrated beverage chiller with a power glass door and crystal glasses, seamlessly blending leisure with travel. The craftsmanship is evident in every detail, with illuminated décor and unique embellishments adding to the brand’s unparalleled aesthetics. The interior decor, wrapped in unstained wood veneers, honors natural color and grain pattern variations, while open pore finishes provide a tactile experience. Each piece is hand-cut and hand-laid using marquetry techniques, creating a beautiful focal point that draws the eye from the front doors to the console and into the rear compartment. The windshield, framed in milled brushed aluminum, continues Cadillac’s use of natural materials.
Lighting plays a significant role in the SOLLEI's personalization and connection with nature. The vehicle features distinguished ambient lighting with multiple zones and 126 color options in each zone, allowing for true customization of the interior ambiance. This lighting can evoke specific moods, enhancing the personalized experience.
For bird-watching enthusiasts, SOLLEI offers a unique interior accessory: a custom brushed metal and leather-wrapped case housing 3D printed acrylic bird calls, a leather-bound journal with hand-painted bird illustrations, and a leather tool roll for pens and pencils. This accessory, custom matched to the vehicle’s interior, allows enthusiasts to capture their bird-watching experiences in style.
Celebrating the optimism of travel and the celestial environment, the SOLLEI's design incorporates rich sensory engagement, unexpected discoveries, and a sense of occasion. Sun-themed features are pronounced in its color, materials, and finishes. These include sunburst-themed lighting and graphic choreography, sunburst motif perforation, quilting, and embroidery on seat patterns, and an interior Fine Nappa leather with a pink iridescent pigment that creates a subtle color-changing sunrise effect. The charging mats, door map pockets, and custom accessories are made from MycoWorks’ premium bio-based material with an iridescent finish in a soft hue color palette. The pink iridescent hue on the beverage chiller door and glass tray in the rear compartment reveals different sunlight exposures. The “Aurora” tint on primary metal finishes reflects the phenomenon of the sun's solar winds reacting with the earth's atmosphere. The convertible metallic roof fabric, named "Daybreak," ties to the functionality of the convertible roof, allowing sunlight to pour over the interior as the roof retracts. The textured floormat material, named "Bask," is a boucle fabric that adds beautiful texture and subtle warmth, matching the roof material and keeping the interior light.
The SOLLEI convertible exercise represents Cadillac’s vision of modern design in an open-air format, inspired by iconic Cadillacs from the past. The concept was officially unveiled at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, a newly restored, state-of-the-art facility at GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan. This location is dedicated to providing a bespoke design experience for Cadillac CELESTIQ clients.
With the SOLLEI, Cadillac has not only reimagined the luxury convertible but also set a new standard for bespoke automotive design, combining innovation, sustainability, and timeless elegance.
