Fan of the new Ford Ranger MS-RT but need a little more space than a pickup can offer? Well, luckily for you Ford Pro has also revealed a new Transit Custom MS-RT. Yep, can confirm we still love a bodykitted van.
And what a bodykit. We thought the one from German tuner Loder1899 was pretty special last month, but now Ford has gone and outdone the aftermarket with its own top-spec Transit. Up front you get an ‘aerodynamic front bumper’ and many muscular lines, but things start to get really serious at the sides with new skirts, bulky arches, black mirrors and anthracite 19in alloys that apparently reduce unsprung weight by just over a kilogram per corner.
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At the rear of the MS-RT there’s a new diffuser (very important on high-performance vehicles like the Transit) and a proper wraparound spoiler that has apparently been “optimised for airflow using advanced computer simulations", says Ford. Of course.
Anyway, the MS-RT can be combined with many different Transit Custom powertrains. If you’re wanting a diesel, it’s a 2.0-liter EcoBlue engine that—when combined with an eight-speed auto gearbox—makes 168hp and can send that power to either all of the wheels or just the fronts. If you pair that diesel with a manual then you only get six speeds and 148hp.
You can also have a plug-in hybrid powertrain that pairs a 2.5-liter petrol engine with an electric motor and an 11.8kWh battery. Or, you can go full green and pair that glorious paint with the E-Transit Custom powertrain. That gives you a full 281hp that’s sent to the rear wheels. Basically, a sports car.
Except, this is a sports car that offers a load space of up to 6,800 liters and a payload of up to 1,124kg. Oh, and you can still have the rad MS-RT version with all of Ford Pro’s connected services for commercial vehicles. Deliveries commence (presumably very quickly) in mid-2024.
More photos of the Ford Transit Custom MS-RT body kit:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
