First Tesla Model S Shooting Brake Is The World's Fastest Station Wagon

Jan. 30, 2018 12:45 PM ET by Martin Bigg / 20 Comments

Surprisingly, it's also lighter than the standard Model S.

To date, Tesla has yet to make a foray into the shooting brake segment and we think the automaker is missing a trick. Turns out it isn't just us that thinks this, because two companies have been busy converting a Model S into an electric shooting brake. We've seen design renders of Dutch coachbuilder RemetzCar's effort, but now the world's first Tesla Model S Shooting Brake has been completed by Qwest, a British carbon fiber coachbuilder based in Norfolk, UK.

The finished shooting brake is fully working and is even said to be 14 kg lighter than the standard Model S despite being larger, thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber in its custom-built tailgate, rear roof section and D-pillar developed by Formula One car component specialist CODEM. According to Autocar, the car remains connected to the Tesla network so it retains the digital systems of the regular Model S. Performance is also said to be identical, with a 0-62 mph time of 2.8 seconds making it the fastest station wagon in the world, beating the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid by 0.6 seconds.

Compared to the standard Model S sedan, the modifications add an extra 210 liters of storage space in the wagon. Work on the Model S shooting brake has taken over a year after being commissioned by entrepreneur Phil Hayton who wanted a car with the qualities of a Model S but with extra trunk space to carry his dogs. The completed car will be shown to the public at the upcoming London Motor Show in May. "This year's London Motor Show is set to welcome more world firsts than ever before in our new home, and we're delighted to have the world's first Tesla-based Shooting Brake coming to the capital," said London Motor Show chairman, Alec Mumford.

"This is a serious feat of engineering using the very latest technology, making it perfect for our enthusiastic audience. This isn't a car to be missed at the show!" Prices for the conversion start at £70,000 ($98,450) to complete, excluding the cost of the donor car.