Ah, the Ford Transit, the backbone of Britain, as the advertising tells us. It has been in production for over 50 years, and you can’t drive for more than a minute on our roads without seeing at least one – after all, they’ve made over 8 million of them!

Fast forward to now, and the all-new Transit Custom has got all the best bits from the Ford parts bin to make it the most usable Transit yet.

But as good as it is, sometimes you want your van to be a little bit ‘extra’ and be practical yet sporty simultaneously. This is where MS-RT comes in - a collaboration with Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport (who does Ford’s rally cars) – who takes the Transit and modifies them with a body kit and parts to give buyers that little bit more personalisation. The new Transit Custom already looks amazing, but MS-RT have done wonders.

Outside, you get a custom-designed body kit with an aggressive front bumper, wider arches and a rear bumper with a new functional diffuser. It’s a little harsh to call it a body kit, though, such is the high level of finish that you’d think was a Ford-designed part.

There are 19-inch anthracite alloy wheels, and you can also get a graphics package to finish the look.

Inside is a new flat-bottomed steering wheel, leather interior and loads of tech. This particular version is an intriguing vehicle, too – it’s the DCIV (Double Cab in Van) version which means there are five seats, plus it has the LWB body, so there’s a decent load area behind.

For this latest generation Transit Connect it now has the Plug-in Hybrid powertrain too, so there's a 2.5 litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor powered by a 12kWh battery, meaning you can travel 35 miles on EV power alone (for your city driving) and then the petrol kicks in when needed. Keep it charged and you can get over 150mpg!

This could double up as a family vehicle and work van, perfect for those who only want one vehicle and don’t like the idea of an SUV or MPV. And it looks fantastic! Get your tickets to the BOTB competition here.