A new Cadillac concept evokes past opulence.

When many conjure images of the idiomatic “Cadillac,” cars like the Eldorado Biarritz of the late 1950s might come to mind, with their immense proportions, dramatic styling, and unabashed luxury, exemplifying the glory days of Cadillac’s past eras. Today, the brand has reached to regain that kind of presence in the automotive world, most prominently with the introduction of its all-electric Celestiq halo car, with limited production, bespoke commissioning, and an eye-watering $300,000 price tag. However, the introduction of a new concept shows that Cadillac may not be ready to stop there.

The new concept is called the Sollei, and it’s a 2+2 convertible that, in fact, does echo the opulent luxury of past icons like the Eldorado Biarritz and, more recently, the celebrated Cadillac Ciel open-top concept car. The name “Sollei” combines “sol,” meaning “sun,” and “lei,” standing for leisure, and the name suggests that the car is meant for easygoing driving pleasure. The Sollei also boasts an all-electric powertrain, setting it apart from its predecessors with futuristic technology.

In addition, the Sollei also uses a new bio-based leather alternative developed recently between Cadillac and MycoWorks. It combines innovative upholstery (on the console charging mats and door map pockets) with a 55-inch screen that spans the entire dashboard, choreographed lighting, and elegant design to envision yet another example of Cadillac’s glorious future luxury potential.

Its color, Manila Cream, echoes the golden-age Cadillacs of the late 1950s. Still, its approach to luxury is modernized with features like a beverage chiller complete with glasses, multiple ambient lighting zones, and even accessories made for bird watchers: a set of 3D-printed bird calls, a leather-bound journal with bird illustrations, and a leather tool roll for pens and pencils. Even the smallest details of the new Cadillac Sollei concept are stunning, with a sunrise effect achieved through pink iridescent pigment on the leather, sunburst-themed lighting, color-shifting “Aurora” tint on metal surfaces, and a boucle fabric used for the floormats. As Cadillac continues to revolutionize its luxury portfolio, the Sollei is the next step in bringing Cadillac’s nostalgic glory days to the future.

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