Cadillac Sollei: Return of the Ultra-Luxury Four-Seat Convertible

Some of the excesses that were once part of the market have been gone. Cadillac and Genesis could be on the verge of bringing something cool back to the road.

Where have all the good cars gone? For many years, we haven’t seen any large, ultra-luxury four-seat convertible cars. For the most part, large cars with only four seas and a convertible top aren’t practical, and they cost a lot to make and sell. That said, these cars might make a comeback and in the electric vehicle market. Instead of being powered by large gas engines, these amazing droptops could be EVs.

Genesis got things started

Genesis rolled out some incredible concept cars two years ago. The X Convertible concept showed the world that someone was thinking about four-seat ultra-luxury cars. This stunning machine looks great and has pure luxury and performance that makes it look and feel like a car made for an exclusive crowd.

It wasn’t long after the Genesis model rolled out that Cadillac did the same. The electric convertible concept with the 2+2 seating configuration from Cadillac is called the Sollei. This new concept car showed off with pure luxury qualities that are more than fitting for a Cadillac.

Although both brands featured concept four-seat convertibles over the past few years, doesn’t mean either car will be made. Still, cutting back into a long-gone vehicle class takes steps and one of those steps is presenting a concept vehicle.

It’s not an answer to another brand

The incredibly expensive and ultra-exclusive Cadillac Celestiq is the brand’s answer to Rolls-Royce and the high-end clientele associated with the top name in the automotive industry. Instead of aiming high toward another brand, the new Sollei could stand on its own merits. This new convertible electric car has styling cues similar to those of its corporate sibling but won’t have an equal in the market.

The new Sollei, if made, will reinvigorate the incredible style and presence of old-school luxury convertible cars but with a different twist. This new car uses the same Ultium battery platform as the Celestiq, while delivering the goods as a convertible car with an incredibly imaginative look and feel.

Think back a few decades

If you remember the Cadillac DeVille and Eldorado convertibles of old, you’ll begin to understand where this new electric convertible is coming from. The concept model was even painted in a color that only appeared on the late-1950s Cadillac convertibles: Manilla Cream. This color might not look or feel great on a regular car like a Camry, Accord, or Malibu, but it shines when applied to something as purely sophisticated and elegant as the Cadillac Sollei.

So far, Cadillac hasn’t slated this ultra luxurious four-seat convertible for production. GM has termed it as an “imaginative design exercise,” which seems like an expensive way to stretch those creative muscles, Still, with this concept physically in existence, we could either see the Sollei in the future, or begin to see other Cadillac models with similar styling and design elements.

Will Cadillac go sporty

It’s not unlike Cadillac to offer performance versions of its sedans. The CTS-V, ATS-V, CT4-V Blackwing, and CT5-V Blackwing are all proof that this brand continues to develop and offer high-performance sedans in the luxury car market. Even the massive Escalade has a performance variant called the Escalade-V.

Currently, the Cadillac Sollei doesn’t have any sporty aspirations. The name is a combination of “Sol” to mean “sun” and “Lei” to mean “leisure.” Instead of track-ripping speed and performance, this smooth and luxurious four-seat convertible could be much more akin to an afternoon nap in the summer when the sun is high and it’s time to relax in your hammock in the yard.

The design elements of the Sollei match the name perfectly. The high shoulder line, low-sloping rear end, and smooth bodywork, give this car a more relaxed feeling instead of the pure adrenaline rush of the performance-oriented Cadillac cars.

The cabin will make you hungry

How do you feel about lemon meringue pie? If its one of you favorite treats, especially on a hot summer day, that’s what you’ll think of when you see the Cadillac Sollei interior. This yellow-colored interior complements the exterior color perfectly while providing incredible details and elegant trimmings to make this cabin area loo amazing.

The Mycelium by MycoWorks material used in the cabin is made from grown mushrooms, giving this interior a sustainable look and feeling. The cabin is another area where the Sollei matches the Celestiq for style and elegance.

All these elements combined bring us a convertible Cadillac luxury car that takes things much higher in the market than most convertibles go today. The only remaining question is: “Will GM make the Cadillac Sollei?”