Would you consider an SUV/crossover mid-sized van in the mould of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak with big wheels, high ground clearance, a sporty body kit and maybe even all-wheel drive?
This is an intriguing proposition suggested for a future possible Transit Custom derivative by Ford Motor Company vehicle program director for Icons and Ford Performance, Ali Jammoul, when speaking to the Australian media in South Australia last month.
While completely dismissing any prospects of an ST high-performance version of the global best-selling mid-sized van in the near future, the four-decade Ford veteran said that going down the crossover or SUV route in this increasingly popular segment might actually make more sense for the 57-year old line of commercial vehicles.
“I think there is something there in these vans that could play into – maybe not in the top-tier like Raptor and lower tiers like ST – but we need to bring in a van (that is) sub-ST,” Mr Jammoul said.
“There are also overlanding and adventurous vehicle (options), and you can do some (of this) with Transit – go and have fun and play with a vehicle like this.”
While Mr Jammoul reiterated that there are no concrete plans for such a vehicle at this time, the idea of a performance and/or off-road-focused van/crossover is a very appealing one that might have legs sometime in the future of the series.
“I don’t have the answer,” he said. “But there is something there with vehicles like the Transit.”
Ford already offers a warmed-up version of the Transit Custom in Australia and elsewhere, with the Sport in both 320S short-wheelbase and 320L long-wheelbase guises featuring a 130kW/430Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that’s slightly more powerful (+5kW) and stronger in torque (+40Nm) than the regular versions.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the existing Transit Custom Trail brings a mechanical limited-slip Quaife differential, a recalibrated traction control system, and optional all-wheel drive (AWD) to the workhorse van, while the Transit Custom Active ushers in what Ford calls a more “SUV” appearance with a mesh grille, extra body cladding, roof rails, different wheels and more car-like interior treatments. This one’s aimed at more recreational buyers.
Stepping up a notch, there is also a Ford-sanctioned conversion offered in Europe (and available in Australia independently). Known as the Transit Custom MS-RT, it was created by UK-based vehicle design specialists, MSRT – which in turn is the on-road production vehicle arm of Ford motorsport partner, M-Sport.
Boasting a rally sport look inspired by the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Fiesta WRC car, the Transit Custom MS-RT includes an expanded colour palette, more aggressive grille, front bumper and air intake designs, bi-Xenon headlights, extended wheel arches housing lightweight 18-inch OZ Racing alloy wheels (for reduced unsprung weight), side skirts, rear diffuser, roof spoiler, a twin-pipe sports exhaust and optional decals. Inside there are Nappa leather/suede seats, an MS-RT sports steering wheel and revised instrumentation.
With the redesigned next-generation Transit Custom expected in 2024 engineered to include conventional internal combustion engines in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions as well as a pure EV from the outset, the move to electrification opens up all sorts of possibilities moving forward.
This might include a raised crossover option in the future as suggested by Mr Jammoul, with AWD to give it extra traction and open up new niches within the growing segment.
Extra body cladding, beefier bumpers, fatter wheel arches and other add-ons would lend an extra visual lift, while giving such a Transit a new off-road attitude that no production version has ever managed in Australia.
Transit Custom Wildtrak, anyone?
As reported extensively, the next Transit Custom will also be the basis for the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter, as part of Ford’s increasing model-sharing program with the German conglomerate that also sees the VW Caddy-derived Ford Transit Connect/Tourneo.
In 2021, mid-sized van sales leapt 22 per cent, or about 33 per cent above the pace of the growth in the new-vehicle market in general, underlining the increasingly important nature of the segment in Ford Australia’s line-up.
Keyword: Ford Transit Wildtrak anyone? Pumped-up Ford Transit Custom van could be in the pipeline with a rugged, crossover treatment for the coming next-generation version