Ford Transit Custom MS-RT: aggressive body kit and more power for the electric version

Ford has unveiled the MS-RT sports version of the second-generation one-ton Transit Custom van, it is available in combination with electric, hybrid and diesel power plants to choose from.

MS-RT (M-Sport Road Technology) is a division of the British rally team M-Sport, which is engaged in tuning Ford light commercial vehicles. Ford has a long-standing partnership with M-Sport; the sports version of the MS-RT was already available in the first generation Transit Custom, but last year the second generation of the van entered the market, and now it is also available in the MS-RT version.

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The main feature of the MS-RT version is an aggressive aerodynamic body kit, it includes a new front bumper with heavily inflated side air intakes, a new rear bumper with a built-in two-section diffuser, wheel arch extensions (ventilation grilles are integrated into the front ones), door sills and a developed spoiler, encircling the upper part of the stern.

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Plump wheel arches were needed for wider Goodyear Eagle Sport tires of size 235/45 R 19 than other versions of the van. The track has increased by more than 50 mm. Openwork light alloy wheels made it possible to reduce the unsprung weight by 1 kg on each wheel. Other modifications to the chassis have not been announced — they say that the new Transit Custom is already excellent: the independent suspension of the rear wheels gives the van the behavior of a passenger car.

The Ford Transit Custom MS-RT is only available with powerful powertrains. The younger version is a 2.0-liter EcoBlue turbodiesel with 150 hp. in combination with a 6-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. Next comes a more powerful version of the same turbodiesel with 170 hp. paired with an 8-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The plug-in hybrid Transit Custom MS-RT comes only with front-wheel drive, it is equipped with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine, an electric motor and an electromechanical CVT, the maximum total output of the power plant is 233 hp. The capacity of the traction battery is 11.8 kWh, its full charge is enough for approximately 50 km of electric driving in the WLTP cycle.

The electric version of the E-Transit Custom stands apart, which, we recall, has an electric motor installed on the rear axle and rear-wheel drive, respectively. The standard E-Transit Custom has a maximum electric motor power of 160 kW (217 hp), and on the MS-RT version it is increased to 210 kW (285 hp) — so far this is the most powerful production Transit Custom in history. A full charge of a battery with a capacity of 82.5 kWh is enough for approximately 300 km in the WLTP cycle.

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The interior of the MS-RT version has exclusive sports front seats with integral headrests, developed lateral support, combined upholstery and blue stitching. The leather steering wheel is also stitched with blue threads and equipped with a blue center position mark. The rear seats, if the customer orders the crew cab version, will also receive unique upholstery and headrests with the MS-RT logo.

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Prices for the Transit Custom MS-RT have not yet been announced, but Ford Pro dealers are already accepting pre-orders for them, deliveries will begin in the middle of this year.