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Custom car builder launches Tesla Model S Shooting Brake wagon in UK market
Dutch coachbuilder RemetzCar took the wraps off its version of the Tesla Model S Shooting Brake on Tuesday, unveiling a stunning gold-green, modified all-electric wagon in London.
The design of the custom-built Tesla came from the studio of 33-year-old car designer Niels van Roij, who led the team that worked on converting the Model S into a shooting brake. In an interview with Autocar UK, van Roij, who now runs his own design studio, spoke about the Model S’ conversion, its journey from concept to reality, and his thoughts about Qwest Norfolk’s Model S Shooting Brake, which was unveiled earlier this year.
According to van Roij, his Model S Shooting Brake project started when it gained funding from Floris de Raadt, a Dutch entrepreneur with a passion for shooting brakes. The 33-year-old designer stated that de Raddt was glad to fund the project. Considering de Raadt’s passion for new technologies, however, the base vehicle had to be a Tesla.
“Advanced technology is what makes him tick – that’s why it had to be a Tesla. He wanted to signify that we’re at the start of a new era,” van Roij said.
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
As per the recommendation of de Raadt, van Roij ultimately partnered with RemetzCar, an auto firm that specializes in building stretched cars for the royal family of the Netherlands. RemetzCar was no stranger to Teslas, either, as the company has designed a Model S hearse in the past. According to RemetzCar on its official website, the conversion itself involved crafting new aluminum body panels for the extended hips, the new c-pillar, the shape of the roof at the back and the modified window seals. A third brake light, a concealed rear wiper, and custom chrome moldings were also created for the vehicle.
“The client knew them and proposed them. They had the skills to do everything by hand, from beating the aluminum into shape to working with the glass to achieve the huge roof shape. Everything we have added is sculptural; nothing is there for the sake of it,” he said.
Upon completion of the project, the modified all-electric vehicle was rebadged as the RemetzCar Model S SB. According to van Roij, they are planning on building 20 units of the Model S Shooting Brake, though he has stated that they could probably make as many as 30 if the vehicle proves popular.
Octane Magazine, which was present during the vehicle’s launch event in London, recently announced the price of RemetzCar’s shooting brake conversion. According to the UK-based auto publication, the cost of the conversion starts at around £80,000 ($107,000) on top of the Model S, which starts at $74,500 for the base 75D version.
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
- RemetzCar’s Tesla Model S Shooting Brake. [Credit: RemetzCar]
The RemetzCar Model S SB is not the first shooting brake of its kind. That honor goes to UK aftermarket company Qwest Norfolk, which completed its conversion of the Model S earlier this year. As we noted in a previous report, Qwest’s conversion starts at $84,000, making it more than $20,000 cheaper than RemetzCar’s version. For its higher price, however, RemetzCar’s shooting brake includes a complete rework of the Model S’ interior, unlike Qwest’s vehicle, whose interior is mostly stock. Unlike Qwest’s shooting brake, which is also built to maximize luggage space, de Raadt noted in the company’s press release that the RemetzCar Model S SB is designed to be sporty and elegant.
Van Roij, however, stated that he is nonetheless fascinated with the bodywork done on his car’s UK counterpart. According to the designer, he is happy to see that the two shooting brakes are very distinct from each other.
“We were aware of it even when we started our own project, and it was nice to see that the two concepts are really very different. Now customers have a choice. The way they have made their bodywork is fascinating, and the way we have handcrafted ours is also fascinating, I hope. I wish them well,” he said.
Body Kits
World’s fastest Tesla Model S Plaid undergoes major changes

You may have seen the formerly wrecked, then gutted 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid that had most of its body cut off and set the quarter mile record back in August, but now, it is a completely different creation dubbed the “Plaidessey.”
YouTube channel BoostedBoiz is making another major change by chopping off what little remained of the Plaid and dropping a 2001 Honda Odyssey body onto what’s left to create the “ultimate sleeper.”
In all fairness, the Odyssey body actually fits pretty well over the Model S, with less than two inches separating the wheelbase and only minor changes needed for the fenders.
One hurdle was the B pillar of the van not lining to where the Model S had its B pillar, but once the front windshield of the Model S was cut off, it made the accessibility into the car much easier.

The “Plaidessey” halfway through the changes (Credit: BoostedBoiz YouTube)
Before this major alteration, they set the Model S Plaid quarter mile world record by running 8.71 seconds down the dragstrip after cutting off the body and adding an aluminum shell to help with aerodynamics.
After setting the world record, they ran into another problem with the suspension getting stuck in low mode and even took it by a couple of Tesla dealerships in Florida to see if they could help with the issue. Unsurprisingly they weren’t able to get much help considering the changes made.
They were eventually able to enlist the help of Electrified Garage to help narrow down their issues and get a replacement part shipped out to fix the suspension.
Check out the transformation on the BoostedBoiz’s channel below!
What do you think of this creation from a 2022 Model S Plaid turned “Cyberkart” and now the “Plaidessey?”
Questions or comments? Shoot me an email at rangle@teslarati.com, or Tweet me @RDAnglePhoto.
Body Kits
Tesla Model S conversion project births stunning two-door convertible

The Tesla Model S was a subject of a conversion project at Ares’ Design, turning the flagship sedan into a stunning two-door convertible.
The Model S was Tesla’s second car behind the original Roadster from 2008. Since its original release in 2012, Tesla has made several small refinements to the car. One of the most notable is the omittance of the nosecone in favor of a new, more modern design. Tesla implemented this change in 2016, and it has been highly-accepted among the community.
Recently, rumors of a refresh to the Model S design have been circulating within the Tesla community. Because the flagship sedan and subsequent Model X vehicles have not been updated in several years, Tesla may be considering updating the design. While possibilities are endless and everyone has their opinion on what should be done, the folks at Ares Design in Modena, Italy put their own spin on the Model S, ridding it of the rear passenger doors and doing away with the top of the car.
- Credit: Ares Design
- Credit: Ares Design
- Credit: Ares Design
- Credit: Ares Design
- Credit: Ares Design
- Credit: Ares Design
The project started with the removal of the roof and central B-pillars, along with the rear doors. The wheelbase was then shortened to make the two-door design more reasonably aesthetic, and Ares designed their own doors that were fabricated to the specifications of the newly-refined Model S chassis. Structural reinforcements were added as well to ensure the safety of passengers.
Paired with interior upgrades that include new seating and a colorful new steering wheel with matching accents, the Model S from Ares is certainly one of the more interesting revisions to Tesla’s flagship sedan. However, it isn’t an ugly or unruly conversion by any means. However, some enthusiasts may have something to say about the revisions to the Model S’ design, as it was many early Tesla enthusiasts first EV.
Ares has many projects that will fit the taste of nearly every automotive enthusiast on Earth. With projects that span from Tesla to Lamborghini, there are several different routes the design studio has taken over the years to ensure the satisfaction of their customers and fans.
“At Ares, our co-create philosophy allows clients to work side by side with our designers and engineers to create their very own bespoke vehicle, a service that is unique to ARES,” CEO Dany Bahar said in a statement on the company’s website. “This Tesla project is a superb example of this; it was a pure coachbuilding project which we very much enjoy doing and seeing the results of our uncompromising standards.”
What do you think? Leave a comment down below. Got a tip? Email us at tips@teslarati.com or reach out to me at joey@teslarati.com.
Body Kits
Unplugged Performance Tesla Model 3 in Street Spec Beats Legendary McLaren F1 at Tsukuba

A Tesla Model 3 Performance with modifications from EV tuning house Unplugged Performance has achieved an elusive feat. During a run in Japan’s Tsukuba Circuit, a location famed for its twists and turns, the modified all-electric sedan managed to beat the record of a legendary naturally aspirated supercar, the McLaren F1, with an impressive lap time of 1:03.3.
What’s rather interesting is that the Model 3 Performance was actually in its street settings when it was brought to the track, and its driver was a neophyte with electric cars. While the vehicle had a slew of modifications, the Model 3 was not tuned or modified specially for the Tsukuba Circuit. It was even equipped with OEM tires from a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997), which are good on the track but also great for regular driving.
The Model 3 that was used for the Tsukuba Circuit run was the same car that Unplugged Performance brought to the Tokyo Auto Salon. The vehicle, which belongs to Tesla owner enthusiast Erik Strait and dubbed as the Model 3 Ascension R, was brought over to Japan this January following its showcase at the SEMA 2019 show. The all-electric car was showcased in Japan as a way to demonstrate how classic tuning methods could be applied for high-performance EVs.
It should be noted that its record-breaking lap was not the first time Unplugged Performance’s Model 3 Ascension R was brought to Tsukuba Circuit. After its appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the vehicle was brought to the track, where it came close to beating the McLaren F1’s lap record with a time of 1:04.7. This was just one-tenth of a second slower than the McLaren F1’s record of 1:04.6.
While the McLaren F1 is no longer the world’s fastest supercar today, the vehicle remains one of the most formidable forces of automotive engineering ever created. The car, which saw production between 1992 to 1998, was considered groundbreaking and insane at the same time. In 1998, the F1 took the title as the world’s fastest production car with a speed of 240.1 mph, and it held on to its crown until it was beaten by the Koenigsegg CCR in 2005. Even decades after its release, the McLaren F1 remains the world’s fastest naturally-aspirated production car in the industry.
For Unplugged Performance CEO Ben Shaffer, The Tesla Model 3 Ascension R is a love song of sorts to his background in JDM vehicles. It’s a fast electric car that is very capable on the track, of course, but it is also a proper road car that can be used for everyday driving.