Thursday 29th November 2018

MS-RT creates rally-inspired Ford Transit Custom

And better yet - Ford has approved its sale through the UK dealer network

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Ever since Ford stuck an F1 engine in a Transit to produce the Supervan, commercial vehicle owners the nation over have been inspired to spec up their humble works van with sporty bodywork and alloy wheels. Some, inevitably, have gone a step further and actually injected a bit of performance pedigree into proceedings, creating a market for hot commercial vehicles that companies like MS-RT are now established specialists in.

Evidence of Britain's growing hot van appetite comes with the introduction of MS-RT's latest Transit Custom van into Ford dealerships, where it joins heated-up versions of the Ranger pick-up and Transit from the tuner's line-up.

Developed with South Wales firm Van-Sport and M-Sport boss and former rally driver Malcolm Wilson, the MS-RT is distinguished from the standard Transit Custom by a new bodykit comprised of larger bumpers and wheel arch extensions (!), which accommodate a new set of 18-inch OZ alloy wheels that look like they've been plucked straight off a WRC car. The new model also sits lower on Eibach springs and there are also body decals, of course, to ensure design fluidity. Inside, you'll find nappa leather sports seats.

Under the bonnet is a slightly enhanced version of Ford's 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ecoblue diesel, producing 170hp and and 299lb ft of torque. It breathes through a new sports exhaust system to release some back pressure and - more importantly - add some offbeat anger to the normally gruff exhaust note. Its maker says it will now hit 93mph, too.

Also importantly, thanks to the Ford backing, the MS-RT-tuned Transit Connect now gets a full warranty that matches the one supplied by the original manufacturer. It's on sale now in selected UK dealerships, priced from £29,995 for the entry-level single-cab variant and £35,995 for the range-topping R-Spec edition.

[B17NNS]

Great looking van

[apm142001]

Looks absurd

[Jon_S_Rally]

These Customs are actually remarkably nice inside now. They get more and more like cars and less like the rattly turds that vans of old were. I wouldn't mind being seen in that if I needed a van!

[pmac32]

93 mph, a bit slow...My 11 year old Luton Mercedes Sprinter will sit at near 90 mph all day.

[Bencolem]

Pah. In the US you can get a transit with a (de-tuned version of) the twin turbo V6 shared with the GT!

[Jex]

I don't see how it can be any faster than the ones that pass me!

[lickatysplit]

I'm sure that 93mph is a typo as I'm sure the basic model hits that too

[caelite]

Jex said:

I don't see how it can be any faster than the ones that pass me!

Yup, painted bumpers and electric mirrors, if anything this will be driven far slower with far more care than your average fleet Tranny.

A good friend of mine is having one of the older model ones built at the moment, I'm not sure if it was a change in Fords warranty or if the newer motor isn't as strong but they where able to offer the older 2.2TDCI customs with a 200hp remap. The new 2.0s are stuck at the same 170hp found in the ordinary Transit sport.

[Balmoral]

93mph can't be right, my old Convoy will damn near do that on the level, and a bit more downhill.

[Glasgowrob]

Balmoral said:

93mph can't be right, my old Convoy will damn near do that on the level, and a bit more downhill.

crap can crack 120 in a lwb vivaro with less horses. find it very hard to believe this wouldnt be well into 3 figures.


some places suggest its actually 110 mph

[Tuvra]

Glasgowrob said:

crap can crack 120 in a lwb vivaro with less horses. find it very hard to believe this wouldnt be well into 3 figures.


some places suggest its actually 110 mph

I agree, single cab tipper will carry and do a tonne

[WCZ]

looks good but as with all vans has a terrible engine

[redroadster]

Gyppos will love stripping the kits off these .

[redroadster]

Gyppos will love stripping the kits off these .

[neil1jnr]

pmac32 said:

93 mph, a bit slow...My 11 year old Luton Mercedes Sprinter will sit at near 90 mph all day.

So your van will do near 90mph, this Transit will do 93mph and it is slow.....Why do you need to go 90mph in a van anyway?

[dibblecorse]

That would make a great van for carting the bikes to trackdays in..... nice to see some funky alternatives to the T5/6 .... I just need an auto ....

[louiebaby]

Is this targeting the market currently dominated by the VW Transporter?

I see loads of them around Devon, of various ages, and truth be told can really see the value in them as a family wagon.

They fit in a normal car park space, but can be used for all sorts of weekend pursuits with ease.

[66mpg]

Back in the seventies the V4 petrol Transits were reputed to be able to do 90mph. In the late nineties the 2.5 Di vans topped out at 80mph. It has taken nearly twenty years to get back to where we were forty years ago.

[caelite]

66mpg said:

Back in the seventies the V4 petrol Transits were reputed to be able to do 90mph. In the late nineties the 2.5 Di vans topped out at 80mph. It has taken nearly twenty years to get back to where we were forty years ago.

I'm going to say their is some form of misreporting. I used to do motorway runs on the regular in a boggo spec 130hp custom and it'd sit with the cruise on at 85 with a light load in 6th gear without stressing. I don't recall ever pushing it much past that (fleet vehicle with a tracker) but I never got the feeling I was approaching its top end. I'd be suprised if even the base models couldn't hit 110ish

[dugt]

I’m not really sure why this article is on now?

That van with the Chavy bits has been out for years.

And my standard transit custom will do 108mph on the Speedo