Will Cadillac put this Rolls-baiting convertible EV idea into manufacturing?

Cadillac has revealed a surprising electrical convertible, but it surely’s solely calling this an idea or design train for now.

The Cadillac Sollei carefully resembles the luxurious model’s hand-built Celestiq flagship however ditches the five-door liftback physique for a extra flowing two-door convertible silhouette.

The model says the “forward-looking idea convertible explores the chances of customized commissioned car design” and says this “imaginative design train pushes the boundaries of future bespoke commissions”.

Up entrance, the styling is basically equivalent to the Celestiq. Regardless of the 2 rear doorways disappearing, the aspect bodywork additionally carefully resembles the Celestiq.

There aren’t any door handles, with occupants as an alternative gaining entry by urgent discreet buttons.

The shortage of a roof necessitated vital adjustments down again, and there’s a a lot smoother tail on the Sollei than on the Celestiq.

The decrease tail lights nonetheless resemble these of the Celestiq and Escalade iQ, however the boot lid gently slopes down in direction of a full-width gentle bar.

Cadillac says the design is impressed by iconic autos from its previous.

That features a revived model of Cadillac’s Manila Cream paint, which it used on its autos throughout 1957 and 1958 – although creamy yellows had been accessible effectively into the Nineteen Eighties.

The chrome end for the wheels can also be a really conventional Cadillac contact.

Inside, there’s a 2+2 structure with what appears to be like to be a spacious second row, in addition to a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display as seen on the Celestiq.

Luxurious touches embody a beverage chiller with an influence glass door and crystal glasses, in addition to swathes of unstained wooden veneer that’s been hand-cut and hand-laid utilizing marquetry strategies.

The windscreen can also be framed in milled brushed aluminium, whereas the ambient lighting options completely different zones and 126 color choices.

The sunny exterior end is paired with varied sun-themed design parts inside.

There’s a sunburst motif to the perforation, quilting and embroidery on the seat patterns, whereas the Nappa leather-based has a pink iridescent pigment for a “delicate, colour-changing dawn impact”.

The beverage chiller door and glass tray additionally has a pink iridescent hue which Cadillac says “reveals completely different daylight exposures”, whereas metallic finishes have an ‘Aurora’ tint to evoke the geomagnetic phenomena.

The Sollei is Cadillac’s first idea car to make use of a bio-based materials – mycelium, the foundation construction of mushrooms, is used for the charging mats and the door map pockets and has an iridescent end.

The idea options an uncommon accent: a customized brushed metallic and leather-wrapped case housing 3D-printed acrylic chicken calls, a leather-bound journal with hand-painted chicken illustrations, and a leather-based software roll for pens and pencils.

As for the Sollei’s identify, it’s not a misspelling of Soleil, the French phrase for ‘solar’. As a substitute, Cadillac says it comes from… effectively, the identify for the solar (sol), but in addition the phrase leisure (‘lei’). That is the model that misspells ‘lyric’ and ‘optic’ in spite of everything.

No technical specs have been launched, however the Celestiq makes use of a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with 447kW of energy and 868Nm of torque.

It includes a 111kWh battery pack, and presents a claimed vary of 483km and a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of three.8 seconds.

Cadillac hasn’t provided a convertible because the XLR exited manufacturing in 2009, and it hasn’t provided one with seating for 4 because the Eldorado Convertible was discontinued in 1985.

That’s regardless of rivals like BMW and Mercedes-Benz persevering with to supply droptops. Nevertheless, neither model presents an electrical convertible, and there’s been little exercise within the luxurious electrical convertible area total.

Maserati has revealed an electrical Folgore model of its new GranCabrio, locked in for an Australian launch, whereas Genesis has taken its X Convertible idea on an Australian roadshow and is rumoured to be placing it into manufacturing.

The Sollei idea may stay simply that – an idea. Cadillac is not any stranger to revealing boldly styled idea flagships, solely a few of which find yourself presaging a manufacturing mannequin.

The 1999 Evoq idea previewed the Chevrolet Corvette-based XLR luxurious roadster, however the mid-engined Cien idea of 2002 obtained no such follow-up manufacturing car.

In 2003, Cadillac revealed the breathtaking Sixteen sedan idea that includes, because the identify suggests, a 16-cylinder engine.

Once more, no manufacturing model adopted, nor did the 2011 Ciel four-door convertible and 2013 Elmiraj two-door coupe ideas attain showrooms.

Plans for a manufacturing model of the 2016 Escala idea had been scuppered, however Cadillac lastly broke this streak with the Celestiq.

First previewed as an idea in 2022, it was revealed in manufacturing type later that 12 months wanting primarily unchanged.

It’s being positioned because the model’s most opulent flagship in a long time, sitting far above the remainder of the vary. Every car will probably be personally commissioned by clients.

The value tag for patrons? North of US$300,000 (~A$450,000).

There aren’t any plans for the Celestiq to be provided right here. Cadillac will return later this 12 months with the Lyriq, an electrical BMW iX rival that shares loads of design cues with the Celestiq.

MORE: Cadillac gained’t chase Bentley in Australia with ultra-luxury Celestiq