Ford Transit Custom van gets race-inspired makeover

Ford and MS-RT have partnered on sportier versions of the Transit Custom and E-Transit Custom vans, joining a lowered “street truck” version of the Ranger.

MS-RT, an offshoot of Ford’s rally partner M-Sport, has taken the vans and given them an aggressive new look and, in the case of the E-Transit Custom, a significant power upgrade.

The 210kW output of the E-Transit Custom MS-RT makes it the highest-output Transit Custom ever. The regular E-Transit Custom produces 160kW.

But while the new-generation Transit Custom and E-Transit Custom are coming to Australia this year, these MS-RT versions haven’t been confirmed.

“We have no news to share on any plans to bring the Transit Custom MS-RT or Ranger MS-RT to Australia,” said a Ford Australia spokesperson.

European deliveries of the MS-RT vans begin in mid-2024. The MS-RT treatment will be available with a range of powertrains, and in both van and crew van configurations.

They’re distinguished from regular Transit Custom vans through a new front bumper with integrated spoiler, side skirts, and a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser.

There’s also a motorsport-inspired rear spoiler designed for optimised airflow; a split version is available for vans with barn doors.

The E-Transit Custom MS-RT also receives a LED light strip connecting the headlights.

There are wider wheel arches, within which sit 19-inch anthracite alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45 R19 Goodyear Eagle Sport tyres.

The MS-RT vans will be available in a range of eye-catching colours, including Yellow Green and MS-RT Blue, with blue brake calipers and gloss black mirror caps.

The Transit Custom MS-RT is offered with the choice of a 110kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine mated with a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive, or a 125kW tune mated with an eight-speed auto and either front- or all-wheel drive.

Also available is a 171kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Inside, there are new front seats with more bolstering. All seats are finished in leatherette and suede with blue stitching.

Transit Customs will be sent to a new facility at Ford Dagenham Estate in the UK to undergo final assembly.

MS-RT (or M-Sport Road Technology in full) grew out of a partnership between founder Edward Davies and M-Sport – which has partnered with Ford to engineer and build its rally cars – back in 2015.

It also modified the previous-generation Ranger and Transit Custom, as well as the Transit Connect.

While the MS-RT vans haven’t been confirmed for Australia, Ford recently confirmed a Sport version of the new-generation Transit Custom for our market.

This adds a unique body kit, body stripes and grey alloy wheels to the standard Transit Custom Trend. It’s due here in the third quarter of 2024.

MORE: Everything Ford Transit Custom