A world where the possibilities seem endless is the world the Torsus Praetorian was built for. It’s the world’s first heavy-duty 4×4 off-road bus and it’s a complete badass.
Designed to transport personnel and safety equipment in the world’s toughest climates, the bus features the very best blend of vintage and modern design, helping it to win a Red Dot Award for outstanding design quality. This year, 6,500 products from 60 countries competed to earn a Red Dot Award. Jurors worldwide test all the entries judging the aesthetic, the materials selected, the level of craftsmanship, the surface structure, ergonomics and functionality. After long discussions together, they decide on the design quality of the products, with only the best designs receiving an award.
The bus runs on off-road tires.Photo courtesy of Torsus
The bus has fiberglass body panels that are covered with a scratch-resistant Line-X coating. Buyers can choose from a list of pre-set colors or request a custom job. LED lights are featured on the front and rear. A heavy-duty bull bar is available for the front and rear.
Praetorian is built on an upgraded version of a MAN chassis. It is powered by a MAN 6.9-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine that achieves 240 bhp and 682 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a MAN TipMatic semi-automatic gearbox that is designed to reduce fuel consumption and increase driving comfort.
It rides on 10-hole 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin off-road XZL TL tires, which are designed specifically for tactical off-road vehicles. They feature a self-cleaning open-tread design, full-width steel belts and elastic protector ply to protect against off-road hazards, radial casting, and tubeless construction.
The bus has 15.75 inches of ground clearance.
It has a ground clearance of nearly 16 inches.Photo courtesy of Torsus
It’s a four-wheel drive vehicle that can not just handle rocks, sand, snow, and ice, but also transport a payload of up to 35 passengers plus equipment as standard. Praetorian has standard parabolic leaf spring axles and power steering.
Though built for conquering, the model has a less utilitarian interior. Its has a pneumatic driver’s seat.
Online listings put the price of the model over $150,000.
The bus is designed to conquer dirt trails, sandy conditions, and water.Photo courtesy of Torsus
In addition to the award, on June 22, the Praetorian will be added to the exhibition “Design on Stage” in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen (Germany), where all of the award-winning products will be on show. The Praetorian will also be presented in the online exhibition on the Red Dot website and in the Red Dot Design Yearbook 2020/2021, which comes out in July 2020.
