What Does The Cadillac Sollei Name Mean, Anyway?

The Cadillac Sollei concept convertible was unveiled this past summer, wowing us with a bunch of classy elegancy. The breezy soft-top borrowed its design cues from the Cadillac Celestiq, blending avant-garde electric vehicle technology and classic convertible styling. We also noticed that the Sollei breaks the mold when it comes to Cadillac’s electric vehicle naming convention, which pointedly places an “IQ” at the end of the nameplate – like Lyriq, Celestiq, Optiq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ. But what, exactly, does “Sollei” mean? Today, Cadillac Society examines the concept convertible’s unique moniker. 

The prefix of the name – “Sol” – is pretty self-explanatory. Sol translates to “Sun” in Latin, and it describes the Sollei concept to a T. In fact, the large electric convertible was designed as a love letter to the Sun itself, beginning with its Manila Cream exterior, which is a pastel yellow hue that was previously seen on midcentury Caddy vehicles before being retired.

The soft convertible top itself is finished in a color called Daybreak, while sunburst motifs are emblazoned on almost every available surface. The floormat material is named Bask, while the seatbacks are inlaid with a variety of wood colors arranged in a ray-like pattern, just like – you guessed it – the Sun. 

The “lei” suffix is a bit more obscure – it stands for “leisure.” The Cadillac Sollei concept convertible was absolutely designed with leisure in mind, right down to its built-in beverage chiller with custom crystal glasses for second row passengers and full set of 3D printed birdcalls. It encourages its passengers to slow down and enjoy the ride while staying connected to nature in an open-air setting. 

It’s worth noting that Sollei also sounds similar to “soleil,” which directly translates to “sun” in French. We don’t think that’s an accident, either, even if it is spelled a bit different.

While the Sollei doesn’t exist as a production model (at least as of this writing), hopefully, one day, we’ll be able to take the breezy convertible for a spin in person to see if it lives up to its moniker.