CADILLAC IS PIONEERING LUXURY AND INNOVATION WITH THE UNVEIL OF SOLLEI CONCEPT
The Cadillac Sollei concept is an all-electric 2+2 convertible unveiled on 22 July 2024 at the Cadillac House at Vanderbilt in New York. The name combines the words for sun (SOL) and leisure (LEI), and the concept frames an optimistic vision of open-air electric travel: coachbuilt proportions, fully bespoke interior materials, and a collaborative integration of biotech innovations not previously seen in an automotive concept at this level.
Exterior Design: Low, Long, and Hand-Painted
The Sollei has a low, elongated body with a wide stance and a silhouette that references Cadillac's historic convertibles while reading as entirely contemporary. The exterior is finished in "Manila Cream," a colour applied by hand using traditional coachbuilding techniques. Flush touch sensors replace conventional door handles, keeping the body surfaces uninterrupted. The "Daybreak" convertible roof fabric and "Aurora" glass tint are named to reinforce the concept's solar and open-sky theme. The pillar-to-pillar 55-inch screen visible through the windshield underlines that this is an electric platform built from the ground up.
Interior: The Art of Travel Philosophy
Cadillac describes the Sollei's cabin as an expression of the "art of travel" design philosophy. The passenger space includes a beverage chiller with a powered glass door, crystal glasses, hand-cut wood veneers using marquetry techniques, and ambient lighting with 126 colour choices per zone. Materials are a central story: Cadillac incorporated Fine Mycelium by MycoWorks, a bio-based material grown from the root structure of mushrooms, into the charging mats on the console and the door map pockets. This marks the first time Cadillac has used mycelium-derived material in a concept vehicle, following a strategic investment by GM Ventures in MycoWorks in 2022.
A Heritage of Elegant Convertibles
The Sollei is not positioned as a one-off exercise. It is a deliberate design statement that connects Cadillac's convertible heritage with the brand's electric future. Sunburst-themed lighting, iridescent Nappa leather, textured "Bask" floormats, and passenger-side birdwatching accessories including 3D printed bird calls and hand-painted journals reflect a deliberate attempt to associate the vehicle with specific lifestyle moments rather than generic luxury. The front and rear command consoles and the Sollei's grand touring proportions all suggest that a production interpretation, if it comes, would sit at the very top of the Cadillac line. For the official announcement, see Cadillac Newsroom and the material innovation coverage at MycoWorks.
Explore more boundary-pushing automotive concepts and rare objects in the TheArsenale Cars Collection, including the Lamborghini Huracan V10 Engine Coffee Table and the Rolls-Royce Phantom V12 Engine Coffee Table.
Photo: Cadillac
