Cadillac Debuts Electrifying Sollei EV Concept

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.

The Sollei's interior upholstery matches the color of its exterior. GENERAL MOTORS CO.

Cadillac points out a variety of details that include:

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.

This V16-powered 1934 Cadillac Rumbleseat Roadster was surely an inspiration for the Sollei. Like the new concept car, this roadster is one of a kind, with its body built by Fleetwood. GENERAL MOTORS CO.

“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.”