Cadillac Debuts Electrifying Sollei EV Concept

The plush convertible recalls the glory days of Cadillacs wearing one-off coach-built bodywork from the likes of Fleetwood and Fisher Body.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

July 24, 2024

3 Min Read
Cadillac Sollei concept car
Cadillac Sollei concept carGeneral Motors Co.

At a Glance

  • Features Cadillac's 55-inch pillar-to-pillar dashboard display
  • MycoWorks Mycelium renewable materials inside
  • Integrated beverage chiller

Cadillac exercised its design muscle with the reveal of the Sollei concept car, which the company describes as a coach-built luxury electric convertible. The term “coach-built” means a custom one-off commission by a wealthy client, as was common during Cadillac’s early years, when customers would specify custom bodywork from coachbuilders such as Fleetwood and Fisher Body.

A shift toward electrification makes such vehicles more practical possibilities, as the electric drivetrain can be built into the underlying platform that the industry likes to describe as a skateboard, with bodywork set on top of that. Combustion vehicles with conventional unitized body construction have the powertrain integrated into the construction of the vehicle in a way that makes it difficult to change the bodywork without affecting the crash performance.

Sollei is a posh four-seat convertible finished in striking “Manilla Cream,” a callback to a hue employed by Cadillac for its 1957 and 1958 models. Interior appointments underscore the hand-built nature of the Sollei, with unstained open-pore wood veneers with natural color and grain pattern variations that provide a warm touch. Cadillac says that each piece of wood is hand-cut and hand-laid using marquetry techniques. The windshield frame is made of milled aluminum with a brushed finish, to continue the theme of natural materials.

Related:GM CEO Mary Barra Reveals Simplified EVs for 2025

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Cadillac points out a variety of details that include:

  • Unique sunburst-themed lighting and graphic choreography.

  • Sunburst motif perforation, quilting, and embroidery on seat patterns.

  • Interior Fine Nappa leather featuring a pink iridescent pigment that creates a subtle color-changing sunrise effect.

  • Charging mats on the console, door map pockets and custom accessories are made from MycoWorks’ premium bio-based material created using their Fine Mycelium technology. This material is in an iridescent finish in a soft hue color palette.

  • Pink iridescent hue on the beverage chiller door and glass tray in the rear compartment that reveals different sunlight exposures.

  • “Aurora” tint on primary metal finishes, which includes color shifting to reflect the phenomenon of the sun's solar winds reacting with the earth's atmosphere.

  • Convertible metallic roof fabric called "Daybreak", whose name ties to the functionality of the convertible roof; as the roof pulls back, sunlight can pour over the interior.

  • Textured floormat material named "Bask", a boucle fabric adding beautiful texture and subtle warmth, matching the color of the roof material, keeping the whole interior very light.

Related:Cadillac and Rolls-Royce Electrify Ultra Luxury

Cadillac’s upcoming Celestiq electric sedan charts a course upmarket for a brand that has lost some of its exclusive luster in recent decades, and a coach-built convertible based on the Celestiq could help shift perceptions of Cadillac.

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“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.” 

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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