In the world of pure-electric cars, Tesla has just reached the remarkable milestone of 10 million vehicles sold worldwide.
Tesla has always been known for its minimalist, technology-focused design language.
But there is one Tesla that looks like it came from an entirely different universe.
The car above was recommended to us by an overseas exhibitor at the AIT Auto Modification Show. They told us that their company was actually trying to arrange a special air shipment to bring the car to AIT.
Whether they ultimately manage to make it happen or not, the fact that they are even trying is enough to get us excited.
So, let's take a closer look at this extraordinary Tesla.
A Tesla Model S Transformed into a Shooting Brake
The project is based on a Tesla Model S, but its proportions have been radically transformed into a classic shooting-brake configuration.
The extent of the modifications is enormous. Anyone familiar with custom-car engineering will understand just how ambitious—and difficult—this kind of conversion really is.
The car was built by RemetzCar, a well-known Dutch coachbuilder and automotive customization company. UK-based carbon-fiber specialist Qwest Norfolk is also said to have contributed to parts of the project.
The original plan was reportedly to build 20 cars.
In the end, only one was completed.
Just one.
The Challenge: Giving Tesla a Classic Soul
A proper shooting brake needs a sense of classic elegance and heritage.
Tesla, on the other hand, is built around minimalism, clean surfaces and modern technology.
Combining those two philosophies—and making the result look harmonious—is incredibly difficult.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a shooting brake is a distinctly British automotive concept.
The style emerged in Britain in the late 19th century. As wealthy aristocrats increasingly moved away from riding horses when going hunting, they needed a dedicated vehicle capable of carrying both hunting equipment and dogs.
Such a vehicle needed to be:
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Fast and agile, like a sports car
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Spacious enough for hunting dogs and equipment
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Elegant enough to accommodate passengers without losing its sense of occasion
The result became a unique combination of sleek bodywork, generous cargo space and a refined cabin.
One particularly legendary example is the 1972 shooting-brake conversion based on the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, which remains an iconic representation of the genre.
Turning a “Three-Box” Sedan into a Shooting Brake
The Tesla Model S already has the DNA of a high-performance electric grand tourer. Some enthusiasts have even described it as a bullet on wheels.
But its traditional three-box sedan architecture isn't ideal for a shooting brake.
It simply doesn't satisfy the demanding combination of practicality and aesthetics that enthusiasts expect from this type of car.
That's where the magic of customization comes in:
What the factory didn't provide, the coachbuilder can create.
The designers developed a completely custom rear section, reshaped the roofline and redesigned the rear hatch, transforming the original sedan into a sleek and elegant shooting brake.
And they didn't stop there.
A progressively thickening chrome trim element was added along the lower edge of the side windows and across the roof. This accentuates the sweeping fastback profile while adding considerably more visual drama.
Why Build One in the First Place?
In today's automotive market, there are plenty of vehicles that can deliver the practicality of a shooting brake.
But very few can replace the emotion and heritage associated with the format.
And that's why someone was willing to spend serious money—and undertake such an extreme transformation—to create a shooting-brake Tesla.
So let's take another look at what makes this particular car so special.
This is a 2017 Tesla Model S 100D.
During the conversion, the roof was extended, the rear windows and tailgate were redesigned, and extensive carbon-fiber elements were incorporated throughout the body with a strong sense of visual continuity.
Every one of those modifications is bold.
Yet when you look at the car from the front, rear or either side, something remarkable becomes apparent:
The designers have carefully preserved Tesla's original design language.
The Tesla DNA hasn't been lost.
If anything, it has been amplified.
And that, perhaps, is the most impressive part of the entire project.
From A to B—or From A to A+?
There are generally two kinds of great automotive modifications.
The first takes A and turns it into B. It's a kind of visual grafting—often spectacular, often surprising.
The second takes A and turns it into A+.
That's less about making people say “Wow!” and more about achieving something that feels almost perfect.
This Model S clearly belongs to the second category.
Although the roof has been extended and raised, the car has lost none of the low-slung attitude that defines the Model S.
If anything, the additional length and height have made its presence even stronger.
More Than a Modified Model S
Perhaps the most impressive achievement is hidden beneath the spectacular bodywork.
The rear half of this Tesla has essentially been extended and structurally integrated, yet the finished vehicle reportedly passed all the necessary regulatory and compliance inspections and was approved for legal road use.
That is a huge accomplishment.
In a sense, this is almost a new vehicle rather than simply a modified Model S.
You could even think of it as a third body style sitting alongside the Model S and Model Y.
Except there is one crucial difference:
Tesla has only one.
One car.
One build.
One-of-one.
Will the World’s Only Shooting-Brake Tesla Come to AIT?
If the overseas modification company really manages to bring this car to the AIT Auto Modification Show in Dongguan from October 16–18, it could be one of the highlights of the entire event.
Whether it appears inside the exhibition hall, on the Star Car Avenue, or even takes part in the crazy track parade, this is the kind of car that people will be talking about for years.
And if it actually makes it to Dongguan?
We might have enough to brag about for the next three to five years.
Featured Builders
RemetzCar — Netherlands
RemetzCar was a Dutch coachbuilder specializing in bespoke conversions of high-end vehicles. Its Tesla Model S Shooting Brake project combined traditional coachbuilding with electric vehicle technology and was developed together with Niels van Roij Design.
Qwest Norfolk — United Kingdom
Qwest Norfolk developed one of the earliest Tesla Model S Shooting Brake conversions, using carbon-fiber construction to create a bespoke rear section while retaining the Model S platform.
Together, these two projects helped demonstrate that Tesla's Model S could serve as the foundation for something far beyond a conventional electric sedan.
