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.
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.
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.
