- Welsh styling company’s all-new, MS-RT Connect
- Small-town guys producing big-town performance
- Full order books just waiting for production
PONTYPOOL, South Wales – A small town with a history of coal-mining in the ancient country of Wales might hardly be seen as a builder of performance vehicles but such a company, MS-RT, has revealed the first images of an all-new Ford Transit Connect.
MS-RT, which uses styling and tech pioneered by Ford’s works rally team, has unveiled a second version of the van conversions that were introduced in 2018 – apparently to huge acclaim.
This the latest has a styling kit designed and made in-house that uses an MS-RT plastic injection-moulded body kit – also built on-site – that includes a unique front bumper, grilles, front diffuser, side skirts, rear bumper, rear diffuser and spoiler.
It also has a stainless steel sport exhaust system, 18” OZ Racing alloy wheel rims (bronze finish an option!), a carbon inlay sport steering wheel and hand-made nappa leather / suede interior upholstery.
A long-wheelbase version and double-cab will be introduced towards the end of 2019.
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Customers will also be given an MS-RT gift pack: a logo-ed bag containing products to help keep their van in tip-top condition – a vehicle already approved by Ford – said to be a key feature of the MS-RT Transit Custom.
So, fooled you, we hope! The van, tagged at £24 000 (about R444 000) with a six-speed manual gearbox or, for another R18 000, an auto transmission. Delivery in the UK will include a three-year or 160 000km warranty.
All versions will have LED load-space lighting, a premium infotainment pack with satnav and a reversing camera, bi-xenon headlights and a sliding load door each side.
Apart from the bronzed rims, options will include a Maxhaust exhaust system with app-controlled soundtrack, a rally sticker pack, black exhaust tips, and a carbon-fibre steering-wheel.
MS-RT bossman Edward Davies told The Corner in a media release: “We’ve enjoyed unprecedented success with the MS-RT Transit Custom – order books have been full since launch.
”Customers say they love their vans and the uniqueness so we expect the Connect will develop a similar following among those who want a commercial vehicle with genuine motorsport heritage and fantastic sports styling.
”We’re looking forward to the first Launch Edition models later in 2019.”
The first vans will reach buyers in September 2019, each hand-assembled at MS-RT’s Pontypool factory with its 40 employees / craftspeople.
