Every so often, a concept car comes along that’s made of pure distilled essence of want. Something that tugs on your heartstrings, for you know it’s unobtanium, but it’s begging to be unleashed on the streets. This is one of those concept cars. Say hello to the Cadillac Sollei, an electric convertible concept so exquisite, Cadillac ought to put it into limited production.
The Sollei isn’t something alone the lines of a drop-top CT5. It’s a Rolls-Royce-tier ultra-luxury car, a wax-sealed declaration to the Spectres and Baturs of the world. From the long silhouette to the subtle boat tail rear end, it just exudes elegance, and while a huge part of that is the form factor and luxurious appointments, you can’t deny that the colorway of this concept also plays a role.
See, the creators of the Sollei painted it Manila Cream, a factory Cadillac paint option for 1957 and 1958. Paired with a similar warm cream interior, the result is nothing short of stunning. Add in a little bit of pink lemonade on the doors for the beverage chiller and glassware storage compartment, and voila. This is some serious high-fashion stuff, but as I say, spec matters. This convertible still would’ve made an impact in a deep burgundy or pearlescent green, but the colors Cadillac chose make the whole thing look as decadent as fine silk.
For now, the Cadillac Sollei is just a concept, and that’s a shame. Cadillac should put this sumptuous convertible into production, and from a technical standpoint, it very well could. The Sollei is a Celestiq from the firewall forward, and it rides on the same Ultium platform as Cadillac’s ultra-luxury electric sedan. This means it has DOT-approved headlights, side markers, and front end panels that are already in use on a production car. What’s more, the Sollei also features actual side mirrors, a proper rearview mirror, the airbag-equipped steering wheel and dash pad from the Celestiq, and real running gear. The only real concept car flight of fancy here is the lack of visible exterior door handles, an issue that would be totally solvable, especially when playing in entry-level Rolls-Royce territory.
What’s more, the electric luxury convertible space is currently completely empty. There’s nothing quite like this on the road, and it’s not hard to imagine how fascinating an experience it would be motoring along with the top-down on near-silent electric power. The loudest thing, depending on speed, would likely simply be the sound of the tires, and that can be substantially reduced by simply slowing down and enjoying nature.
Cadillac hasn’t offered a convertible for sale in 15 years when the XLR bowed out in 2009. What’s more, Cadillac hasn’t sold a four-seat convertible since 1985, when the last factory-sanctioned Eldorado convertible was built. It’s about time we had a new Cadillac convertible, and the Sollei could very well be it. Come on. Be the standard of the world again.
(Photo credits: Cadillac)
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