A shooting brake is a 2-door sports wagon. Before SUVs existed, the term descended from when aristocratic European parties used horsedrawn wagons to reach the hunting grounds. These wagons had two doors and space to transport their gear. After carriages became horseless and motorized, the term evolved as much as the vehicle itself.
When automakers began developing sportier coupe-like versions of the estate — or station wagon — they hearkened back to a bygone era when 2-door wagons were used for sport and revived the term — shooting brake. As 2-door vehicles have all but disappeared from the market, a wagon called “a shooting brake” may not come with a coupe-style body, but it will still put as much or more emphasis on performance driving than practicality. Also, it’s almost certain to be produced by a European manufacturer.
