Cadillac Sollei Concept EV: Green and Juice

Cadillac is breaking necks with its head-turning new Sollei concept. If the world hasn’t exploded by then, this electric convertible is probably what Gen Alpha rappers will be rocking a generation from now.

Low and long with old money aesthetics. That’s a West Coast rapper’s delight right there. The Sollei is unmistakably inspired by its predecessors from the late ’50s. In fact, its “Manila Cream” paint was originally used in Cadillacs from 1957 to 1958. The color was recreated and hand-painted by Cadillac’s craftsmen just for this concept. In a nice use of modern tech for aesthetics, the Sollei keeps it clear by eschewing door handles for discreet buttons.

I wish they went retro on the rims and bumpers too, but at least the interior mostly matches the body’s amazing paint and simple silhouette. Yep, wood is back baby. The hand-cut and hand-laid veneers go surprisingly well with the massive 55″ digital display and ambient lighting.

On the green side of things, the Sollei is not only fully electric, it also features a luxury material called Fine Mycelium. As the name suggest, the material is made from the root of mushrooms, making it a far more sustainable alternative to leather. Though obviously the car is also decked in Fine Nappa leather, with the shroomy bits relegated to the mats, door map pockets and other bits.

Cadillac’s press release has some nonsense about bird-watching accessories included in the Sollei, but let’s forget about that and check out its concept video instead:

And here’s a closer look from Downshift: