Skip advert
Advertisement

Cadillac Sollei Concept harks back to glamorous ‘50s land yacht cabriolets

Large and luxurious four-seat convertibles were once at the heart of Cadillac’s eccentric image, something this new concept might just recreate

In the quest to compete at the very top of the luxury car market, lots of high-end manufacturers have started to pay more and more attention to the extraordinary world of bespoke commissions and one-off models. Cadillac is one of those brands, and it’s now come up with the not-quite-a-concept Sollei Concept, which it says represents the very pinnacle of its new bespoke program. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Cadillac Sollei has been designed with a clear reference to Cadillac’s ostentatious and glamorous four-seat convertibles of the 1950s and ‘60s. It references these classic land yachts through its imposing scale and proportions, and by putting ultimate luxury at the very centre of its focus. 

In order to create the concept car, Cadillac has borrowed many elements from the $400,000 Celestiq, the brand’s all-electric flagship that’s already gathered a lengthy waiting list. As a result, the two will probably share the same Ultium platform, powered by two electric motors and a 111kWh battery between them. 

From there, though, the Sollei has been given a brand new body, with two massive doors and an opulent open cabin. The nose is very similar to the Cellestiq’s, but from the A-pillar back, the more traditional open-top silhouette takes over from the fastback roofline, giving the Sollei a much more classical appearance. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The rear end is completely new for Cadillac, and features a thin light bar stretching across the boot lid, sitting above the illuminated risers that frame the rear bumper below. Curious production-relevant design elements, such as the illuminated side repeaters and reflectors on the lower bumper also suggest this could yet be built and sold in extremely limited numbers – if there’s demand. 

The cabin takes almost all of its references from the Celestiq, including its pillar-to-pillar 55-inch display screen and wide central tunnel. The overall design, despite being minimalist in terms of physical controls, has a very opulent art-deco theme, and comes with intricate wooden veneer work across the doors, seats and centre console, as well as solid milled aluminium and even a mushroom-based bio-fabric. 

While Cadillac has not said the Sollei will go into production, its ambitions to become a brand that once again operates at the very top level of luxury motoring, like a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, suggest that this is not out of the question. Just don’t expect to see one in the supermarket car park. 

Would you like to see the Cadillac Sollei Concept go into production? Let us know in the comments below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior staff writer

Senior staff writer at Auto Express, Jordan joined the team after six years at evo magazine where he specialised in news and reviews of cars at the high performance end of the car market. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Volkswagen ID.EVERY1: electric city car concept’s cheeky design teased ahead of full reveal
Volkswagen ID.EVERY 1 concept sketch - front 3/4

New Volkswagen ID.EVERY1: electric city car concept’s cheeky design teased ahead of full reveal

New sketches from VW give us a further taste of what to expect from ID.EVERY 1 that previews electric city car
News
13 Feb 2025
Quattro gone wild: Audi Q6 e-tron off-road concept gets whopping 13,400Nm of torque
Audi Q6 e-tron off-road concept - front 3/4

Quattro gone wild: Audi Q6 e-tron off-road concept gets whopping 13,400Nm of torque

Portal axles give the Q6 e-tron a huge increase in ride height and an awe-inspiring amount of torque at the wheels
News
27 Jan 2025
One-off Genesis GV60 is an electric snowmobile that will rescue stranded alpine mountaineers
Genesis GV60 Mountain Intervention Vehicle Concept - front 3/4

One-off Genesis GV60 is an electric snowmobile that will rescue stranded alpine mountaineers

This bonkers one-off creation is called the ‘GV60 Mountain Intervention Vehicle concept’ and has been revealed in Switzerland
News
24 Jan 2025
New 615bhp Cadillac Lyriq-V electric SUV wants to show the BMW iX who’s boss
2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V - front 3/4 studio

New 615bhp Cadillac Lyriq-V electric SUV wants to show the BMW iX who’s boss

The Lyriq-V can sprint from 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds, making it the quickest Cadillac ever produced
News
23 Jan 2025

Most Popular

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027
Fiat Panda Cross - front static

The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027

Fiat will build a new city-sized Pandina based on the new 500 platform, bringing a proper, petrol powered A-segment city car to market as early as 202…
News
12 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: retro Renault 5 for £232 per month, plus four years to enjoy it
Renault 5 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: retro Renault 5 for £232 per month, plus four years to enjoy it

The reborn Renault 5 is one of the most feverishly anticipated cars in a long time, and at such a low price, our Deal of the Day for 8 February is a p…
News
8 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts