Here’s Why Cadillac Sollei Uses A Soft Top Instead Of A Hard Top: Video
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Cadillac pulled the sheets on the Sollei design study late last month as the luxury marque’s new ultra-lux convertible concept, showing off what essentially amounts to a two-door drop-top variant of the Cadillac Celestiq sedan. In addition to a wealth of unique touches and interesting design elements, the Cadillac Sollei concept features a soft-top roof rather than a convertible hard-top. Now, GM Authority has uncovered the reason behind the decision to equip the Cadillac Sollei with a soft-top rather than a hard-top.
According to the automaker, the soft-top element, nicknamed “daybreak” by Cadillac, ties back to functionality. During the Sollei reveal event, GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft had a chance to talk to GM Design Chief Michael Simcoe, who explained that a hard-top configuration would take up too much space when folded down into the general structure of the vehicle, which would, in turn, limit the sort of design possibilities for the vehicle.
Indeed, the Cadillac Sollei concept is all about showing off those design chops, so the decision to go with a soft-top makes sense in that respect. However, there’s another element to this as well. As Luft points out, other high-luxury makes, such as Bentley and Rolls-Royce, also offer soft-top convertibles.
“That seems to be now becoming a trend,” Luft says in regard to the soft-top ultra-lux models. “If you look across the industry, you have vehicles that have historically been hard-top convertibles, like, for instance, the Mercedes-Benz SL, which for the latest generation has now switched from a hard-top to a soft-top exclusive configuration.”
Further highlights of the Cadillac Sollei include a 2+2 seating configuration and Manila Cream paint; a hue plucked from Cadillac’s catalog in the late ’50s. The cabin also features a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar infotainment screen, Fine Nappa leather, a beverage chiller, renewable materials, and other touches. Under the skin, you’ll find GM’s all-electric powertrain technology, including GM Ultium batteries and GM Ultium Drive motors.
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Did the same Cadillac company design this car as the one that designs Chevy’s rebadged to Cadillac fleet cars?
What decade are you stuck in??
who cares, it is a car serves nothing anyway, it wont go in production, it is concept
Being electric this has a better chance of going into production, than if it had an ICE in it. This is a variation on the Celestiq. With no ICE it doesn’t need emissions testing and being hand built it reduces the factory costs.
The car shares a platform and about 50% of the sheetmetal of the Celestiq. It also shares the amber reflector on the front wheel arch which is a requirement of production vehicles. Everything inside was lifted from the Celestiq with the exception of the leather color and wood paneling. This vehicle is getting built.
A better way to think about it is if it goes into “production”, it will be more than the celestiq. Are you in the market for a 500K car?
Bingo! Being a concept, I seriously doubt this even has a top mechanism of any sort underneath that fake tonneou boot. Concept cars are movie props, nothing more.
Well, this one runs so more than “a movie prop.”
WAY MORE CLASSY OF A VEHICLE THAN THE SEDAN VERSION….JUST BUILD IT, CADILLAC!
My uncle had a softop white 1959 Cadillac and I remember taking a ride in in around New York city.
The GM of today probably will build it … for CHINA only!