MS-RT Ford Transit Custom 2018 Review

MS-RT Ford Transit Custom 300S
Quick Spin

Melbourne-based AUTOSource International is the exclusive Australian importer of MS-RT kits for Ford's Transit Custom medium van. The $24,200 kit essentially adds a range of cosmetic enhancements to the LCV plus Eibach rear suspension, while the engine and drivetrain remain unchanged. Available for both short and long-wheelbase models, the new MS-RT Ford Transit Custom is available from $65,190 (plus on-road costs).

This 2018 MS-RT Ford Transit Custom is a far cry from your everyday light commercial, and it's certainly no knockabout work-site workhorse. It is, however, one stylish bit of gear both inside and out, and the company behind its arrival in Australia – AUTOSource International – is hoping the local market for tricked-out Transit Customs will catch on.

The concept of a 'sports' light commercial van is nothing new. The A-team's black GMC Vandura with distinctive red stripe and rims barreled its way through countless explosions in the 1980s, and Scooby Doo's Mystery Mobile has been tracking baddies since 1969 – but despite having a sizeable pool of fans in the US and the UK, here in Australia the genre remains limited.

Yes, Renault has in recent years offered a couple of 'Formula editions' of its Trafic medium van – with enhanced cosmetics in an F1 theme – but both instances were limited-edition runs and the upgrade amounted to $4000-worth of extras.

Still, if anything is going to give the notion of blinged-out medium vans a nudge in this country, this MS-RT Ford Transit Custom has to be in the running. But before we delve into the nuts and bolts (and custom plastic), let's check out the back story…

Melbourne-based AUTOSource International first got the ball rolling with these MS-RT models in early 2017, when it got all ADR (Australian Design Rules) compliance and importation arrangements in place to sell kitted, fully street-legal Ford Transit Customs and Ford Rangers.

Who is MS-RT? It's essentially a partnership between the UK's Van Sport and Malcolm Wilson, the British rally driving champion who is also the founder and owner of M-Sport, the reigning (and Ford based) World Rally Championship team.

MS-RT essentially produces kits to take the Transit Custom and Ford Ranger from mild to wild, with the kits themselves brought to Australia by AUTOSource International and then fitted in Melbourne by automotive specialist, Prixcar Services.

Carsales caught up with AUTOSource International last year at its Melbourne headquarters, speaking with husband and wife Frank and Loretta York who, together with their son, Ethan, have brought these eye-catching commercials to our shores.

Back then the firm had plans to market these vehicles through Traralgon (Vic) dealership Valley Ford with Ford Australia's blessings, but not long after negotiations stalled and the deal eventually dissolved.

"So at the moment we're selling cars to ad hoc customers, if you like – people who are buying a Transit and then the dealer sends them to us, we fit it out and then send it back to the dealer," says Frank.

So while these MS-RT vehicles don't have Ford Australia's backing, they are still available through any of the dozen-odd Victorian dealerships who are working with AUTOSource.

"We provide a full warranty matching Ford's [three-year/200,000km factory warranty] on all our modifications," says Frank.

"Not that there's much that can go wrong with what we do to the cars; it's more for customer peace of mind."

Late last year also saw MS-RT take the manufacturing of the various kit components in-house – previously most of the kit's components were produced by Polish automotive specialist, Carlex Design.

"The format [of the kits] is the same, I just think the whole quality level has risen – we think it's a much better product," says Frank.

"They [MS-RT] wanted greater control over the product and it's in their hands now; it's where they wanted it to be."

While the MS-RT Ford Ranger is still available in Australia, AUTOSource International is currently focusing its efforts on the MS-RT Ford Transit Custom, which was recently updated for the 2018 model year.

The latest iteration boasts a redesigned interior with new seats and a variety of minor external cosmetic enhancements, plus a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, and integrated satellite navigation as standard.

That's on top of the option of a six-speed automatic transmission, which appeared alongside the six-speed manual in the even-more-heavily-updated 2017 model.

The MS-RT kit can be applied to any model in the Ford Transit Custom range, which starts from $40,990 plus on-roads. However, the kit itself will set you back a cool $24,200 – so really the MS-RT Transit Custom starts from $65,190 plus on-roads.

That's a lot of extra dosh for the look, so let's take a squiz at what you're getting for your money…

The kits comprise an extensive cosmetic upgrade that spans a unique front bumper and grille assembly with sports lower grille and front spoiler, plus flared wheel arches, integrated side skirts, custom rear quarter panels and a sports rear bumper with air diffuser.

Then there's the MS-RT exhaust system modification, which adds dual outlets with chrome tips, along with the colour-matched side mirrors, door handles and trim, and the rear door rooftop spoiler with integrated brake light.

The MS-RT van rolls on 18-inch OZ Racing alloys shod with Michelin Primacy 3 or Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2 tyres (245/45), while Eibach leaf-springs lower the plot at the rear by 15mm.

Inside, the MS-RT Transit Custom receives heated seats with Alcantara and Nappa leather trim and embossed logos, plus a flat-bottomed and leather-wrapped sports steering wheel with carbon-fibre inlay and MS-RT logo, an MS-RT-branded instrument surround, MS-RT-branded floor carpet and a limited-edition build-number plaque.

We took the MS-RT Ford Transit Custom for a quick spin around Melbourne's eastern suburbs and were impressed with the quality of the kit and its general level of detail.
It was hard for us to determine if the quality of the kit has indeed risen since MS-RT took over manufacturing – we thought the MS-RT Transit Custom and Ranger we looked at last year were quality vehicles too – but it's certainly done nicely and we love the little touches like the gel coatings on some of the body strips and components, the carbon fibre touches on the steering wheel, and the blue contrast stitching found on the sumptuous seating and floor mats.

The remodeled front and rear ends really look smart, although that front spoiler limits ground clearance appreciably – approach speed humps and sharp dips or gutters with care.

The drive? The MS-RT really drives like any other Transit Custom. We couldn't feel any discernible difference between these Eibach rear leaf springs and the stock set-up, even if the MS-RT literature claims they deliver "improved handling, braking and responsiveness".

"The standard Transit Custom comes with a bit of a tail-up stance," says Frank.

"The Eibach set-up doesn't alter the load rating but it does level the vehicle out."

We'd have to drive an MS-RT variant back to back with a stocker to properly investigate the performance claim, although a leaf-spring rear really does spell a firm ride when unladen – a mode in which these blinged-out vans will perhaps spend a greater period of their time.

Having said that, apart from that low front spoiler, the MS-RT kit really doesn't impinge on any of the Transit Custom's commercial prowess. You still get a very-well-equipped load bay with sturdy plastic liner, sidewall protection, side and rear grab handles, 50:50 barn-style rear doors, internal lighting, 12-volt outlet and full steel bulkhead, the latter with lower load-through flap for longer items.

It's all good news in the cabin, too. The Transit Custom has been a winner in terms of features and driver comfort since its arrival in 2014, and the quality feel and the sheer level of amenity only gets better in this 2018 model.

There's the 8.0-inch multimedia screen with Ford's slick SYNC3 system, now with sat-nav as standard and equipped with an impressive suite of voice commands. There's also a TFT display nestled between the analogue speedo and tacho, plus a wide array of driver assistance systems and a thoroughly comprehensive suite of safety tech.

The latter includes six airbags as standard and an optional tech pack ($1600) that adds rear cross traffic alert, lane departure and blind spot warning systems, adaptive cruise control, auto headlights and wipers, automatic high-beam control, an upgraded 4.2-inch colour instrument panel, a heated windscreen and a tyre pressure monitoring system. That's in addition to staples like stability control with traction control and ABS, plus load adaptive control and trailer sway control.

Ford's 2.0-litre four-cylinder 'EcoBlue' turbo-diesel produces claimed maximum outputs of 96kW and 385Nm for solid progress through the urban jungle. The addition of the six-speed auto in 2017 has broadened the Transit Custom's appeal considerably, but it still irks us that to select drive from park you have to push the shifter down to one notch short of the bottom of its travel, meaning it's all too easy to accidently select 'manual' instead of 'drive'. No biggie, but a little annoying all the same.

There's a selective catalytic reduction system to help the Transit Custom meet emissions compliance so there's an AdBlue tank along with the regular diesel tank, but one fill-up of AdBlue should last thousands of kilometres and it's available from an increasing number of service stations.

Ford Australia offers this Transit Custom in over 100 different colours while the external MS-RT decals are also available in a number of different hues, so the sky is pretty much the limit in terms of finding a unique look to suit your taste or business requirements.

At this pricing this MS-RT Ford Transit Custom is clearly a niche offering, but if the asking price doesn't offend then buyers will be rewarded with one very distinctive van that will surely cause a stir wherever it rolls.

The Ford Transit Custom is a solid commercial proposition in its own right, while the MS-RT kit adds a sublime twist that will appeal to small business owners looking for a promotional edge, or indeed to any devotee of the 'sports van' genre.

2018 MS-RT Ford Transit Custom 290S pricing and specifications:
Price: from $65,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 96kW/385Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 186g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Renault Trafic (from $34,990 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz Vito (from $37,320 plus ORCs)
>> Volkswagen T6 Transporter (from $36,890 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
Custom Ford commercials touch down
Ford Transit Custom van upgraded for 2018
Ford Transit Custom v Renault Trafic 2017 Comparison

What we liked:
• Head-turning looks
• Quality kit and fitment
• Lengthy features list

Not so much:
• This look doesn't come cheap…
• Location of 'drive' on the shift pattern
• Reduced ground clearance from front spoiler