Say hello to the Torsus Praetorian and while you may not have heard of it before, it promises to be the world’s toughest off-road bus.
Built in Slovakia, the Praetorian has been in production since 2018 but was recently updated for the 2021 model year. Power comes from a 6.9-liter MAN D08 turbodiesel six-cylinder engine with 286 hp and 849 lb-ft of torque, coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission from ZF. The bus can be driven in rear- or all-wheel drive modes and has a 32-degree approach angle, 26-degree departure angle, and minimum ground clearance of 13.4 inches. According to Torsus, it can climb a 33 per incline and ford up to three feet of water.
Read Also: Torsus Turns The Praetorian Into The World’s Most Rugged School Bus
The Praetorian is underpinned by a MAN chassis that has been upgraded for 2021. It seats up to 35 people and a key update made for 2021 is the fitment of new LED lights rated at 4,100 lumens. Torsus has also fitted pneumatic footsteps for easier access, as well as a fire protection system to keep all occupants safe.
The air conditioning system of the Praetorian is also particularly noteworthy. Following extensive testing in areas including Australia’s Great Sandy desert, Torsus says the system can reduce temperatures in the cabin from 140 Fahrenheit (60 Celsius) to 85 Fahrenheit (29 Celsius) in just three minutes and to 68 Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) in 15 minutes with 35 people on board. In addition, the air conditioning system can provide cooling to the engine in extreme situations. The heating system also allows the cabin of the Praetorian to stay above 68 Fahrenheit in 14 Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius) areas.
“Our mission is to ensure our 4×4 heavy duty buses conquer the world’s most daunting driving environments, safely transporting people and equipment to locations no other vehicle could ever reach,” Torsus chief executive Vakhtang Dzhukashvili said in a statement. “Achieving this requires rigorous attention to detail coupled with our obsession with delivering nothing but the best.”
While the Torsus Praetorian isn’t available in the U.S., prices start at the equivalent of US$185,000 in Europe and rise to US$445,000 for a top-of-the-range Expedition variant.
