cadillac’s concept electric convertible SOLLEI resurrects manila cream color of 1950s cars

Cadillac introduces SOLLEI, its concept electric convertible

Cadillac has unveiled SOLLEI, its concept, all-electric convertible and coachbuilt. It’s the renaissance of Manila Cream, a color that the car manufacturer originally used on Cadillacs in 1957 and 1958. The shade, meticulously curated and hand-painted by Cadillac craftsmen, radiates a gentle look, almost softening the edges of the car. The SOLLEI concept electric convertible has a bold and sharp look on the outside. Its wide stance and long coupe door heighten its low and already elongated body.

This design approach enables a spacious trunk, so drivers can stash more objects and equipment in it. The concept car’s design features mycelium material from MycoWorks and smooth, continuous surfaces and a long, stretched shape that make it look longer. The back of the car is low to give it a stylish and sporty look. There’s a line running along the middle of the car connecting the headlights to the taillights, creating a unified design. Instead of regular door handles, the car has hidden buttons, which help keep the car’s exterior looking clean.

all images courtesy of Cadillac

Electric car with mycelium bio-based material by mycoworks

Cadillac makes SOLLEI a 2+2 electric convertible to accommodate more passengers. Aside from its Manila Cream color, another standout feature is the 55-inch, pillar-to-pillar display on the dashboard. Driving information appears here, as well as details related to the car’s speed and battery. There’s a secondary screen between the driver and the front passenger for the steering too. The car manufacturer adds exterior lighting choreography for SOLLEI, so it lights up as a form of acknowledgment whenever its passengers approach the concept electric convertible. 

Cadillac taps the biotechnology company MycoWorks for its charging mats on the console, door map pockets, and custom accessories. All of these are made of mycelium bio-based material produced especially for the concept electric convertible, giving it an iridescent finish in a soft hue color palette. SOLLEI is a portmanteau of the sun (SOL) and leisure (LEI). Having the concept electric car as a convertible isn’t an accident, given that open-air is often associated with basking in natural light while enjoying a laid-back cruise. 

rear view of Cadillac’s concept electric convertible and car, SOLLEI

SOL means the sun, LEI is for leisure

Many of SOLLEI’s features hark back to the sun. Take the sunburst motif perforation, quilting, and embroidery on seat patterns, as well as the Fine Nappa leather of the interior, its pink iridescent pigment creating a color-changing sunrise effect. The metal finishes, or ‘Aurora’ tint, shift color to mirror the phenomenon of the sun’s solar winds reacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. The concept electric convertible also has a metallic roof fabric called ‘Daybreak.’ As it pulls back, natural sunlight can pour over the interior. There’s also a textured floor mat named ‘Bask.’ 

It’s a boucle fabric that gives off warmth in the interior and matches the color of the roof material for continuity. Now onto the ‘leisure’ aspect, which users can see in the components of SOLLEI’s interior. Right off the bat, the theme emerges from the beverage chiller located in the rear passengers’ seats, enclosed with a power glass door and crystal glasses emanating the feel of leisure travel. The interior decor echoes the style of the hospitality industry with the use of wood veneers, natural colors, grain pattern variations, and open-pore finishes for the surfaces.

SOLLEI has an elongated body for a spacious rear space

Continuing the open-pore finish, users can feel its rawness when they touch it. Each piece is hand-cut and -laid using marquetry techniques. The use of natural materials extends to the windshield, framed in milled brushed aluminum. Cadillac begins to use bio-based materials with the concept electric vehicle. MycoWorks’ mycelium material, which stems from the renewable root structure of mushrooms, encloses the charging mats and door map pockets. Cadillac uses lighting inside their cars to allow for personalization.

With the SOLLEI model, it takes this further by offering customizable ambient lighting with 126 color options in multiple areas of the car. This lighting can set different moods for the interior and its passengers. Bird-watching fans may appreciate that the concept electric convertible includes a kit that has a case with bird calls, a journal with bird drawings, and a tool roll for pens and pencils. All of these items are made to match the car’s interior, so bird-watchers can enjoy their hobby while driving. So far, Cadillac’s SOLLEI is still a concept electric convertible.

Manila Cream color shows up on Cadillac’s concept electric convertible and car, SOLLEI

Cadillac used Manila Cream on its cars in 1957 and 1958

Cadillac’s concept electric convertible and car, SOLLEI, uses natural materials such as wood

MycoWorks’ mycelium material encloses the charging mats and door map pockets

detailed rear view of Cadillac’s concept electric convertible and car, SOLLEI

many of SOLLEI’s features hark back to the theme of the sun

project info:

name: SOLLEI
manufacturer: Cadillac | @cadillac

mycelium material: MycoWorks | @mycoworks