This Overlanding Bus Can Tame the Harshest Lands and Is Entirely Modular: Can Be a Wild RV

Torsus is one of those teams that you won't seek unless you're planning on taming some of the world's harshest landscapes; they operate in a niche market. They're the ones responsible for the massive off-road bus before you today.

It's called the Praetorian, and the idea behind this machine is for it to be used as an overlanding and commercial bus. That's right, it's a people carrier, and in all, it can handle 34 passengers. Oh, and just so that we're on the same page here, the manufacturer's website shows off a starting price of €223,510 ($240K at current exchange rates). So, if you're looking to start such a business, be it tourism or simple tasks like ferrying humans across treacherous landscapes, this might be the one for you.

Now, Torsus saw its beginnings under Pulsar Expo, a vehicle conversions expert from Ukraine, and by 2015, they even supplied the US Department of State with around 200 vehicles. If you're looking to secure your business's future, you have to go after those government contracts, and by the looks of things, it all worked out.

As for the Praetorian, it was such a massive project that it required a complete restructuring of the company, including a "new design approach, new R&D center, and new trademark." That's how important this machine is for this brand; it's the proverbial flagship, and the newest generation is packed with over 50 technical updates instead of the previous lineup. Since I wasn't aware of this beast's existence until today, I'll just run through the magic that the newest Praetorian brings to the table.

Overall, we're looking at a machine built upon a MAN chassis and powered by a 1,150 Nm (848 lb-ft) 6-cylinder diesel engine with 4x4 action, obviously. With a 12-speed transmission, Torsus claims it can tackle up to 65% "effortlessly," and the chassis has a break-over angle of 41 degrees. Throw on an air suspension, and that's the base for the Praetorian's magic. Or it could be the 35 cm (13.8 in) of axle to ground clearance, 22-degree departure angle, or the 28-degree approach angle.

Part two of this beast's capabilities has to do with the way the body of the bus is built. While it's not clear if steel or aluminum is used for the Praetorian's frame, Torsus does mention that it's a "corrosion-free body" with polymeric panels, sealed off from the elements with a top coating. Did I mention that the frame is clearly reinforced to handle the tensions and torsions exerted while out in the field?

While I could talk about the exterior features of this beauty all day, we do need to reserve a bit of time for the interior, too. After all, it's going to be transporting humans to and from destinations, and they need to be pampered as much as possible while off-roading.

As mentioned, the Praetorian is designed for nothing other than transporting people around while literally rock-climbing to its destination, all 34 passengers, but that's not all it can do. One side of the Torsus coin is all about building a bespoke unit for its customers.

That said, as I explored the manufacturer's website, I realized that three primary variations exist, but one version in particular, the Personal Freedom model, is all about giving you a bar unit to do with as you please. This means that the Praetorian can easily be transformed into one hell of an RV; you'll just have to drop all the extra cash needed to add a bedroom, galley, bathroom, and systems like plumbing and electrical. Torsus handles heating, ventilation, and AC, but if you need to make changes, I'm sure money will find a way.

Last but not least, the technology in place ensures that you reach your destination ride after ride. From new indicators and a redesigned dashboard and gear shifter, the Praetorian is designed with ease of use and comfort in mind. Yet, another part of the story places our experience in the hands of electronic chips and motherboards.

I'm talking about designated driving modes designed to perfectly and efficiently adapt the Praetorian to whatever terrain you have ahead. Driving around town, you may want to use Efficiency Mode to better regulate fuel consumption, Off-Road Mode for well, off-road use, Low-Range Mode to help squeeze out the last remaining miles out of your fuel tank, and my favorite, Emergency Mode, the one where all cylinders are firing, valves are opened to the max, and revs are in the red; operators are given all they need in case the Praetorian is being used for a rescue mission. See, yet another use for this massive hunk of steel, aluminum, rubber, and composite materials, just to name a few.

So, you've realized that the Praetorian is the sort of machine that could fit into your lifestyle; what to do? Well, considering that Torsus has dealerships and distributors worldwide, all you really need to do at this stage is find the closest one to you, have a chit-chat about your needs, and see just how much cash you'll need to make your overlanding and off-roading dreams a reality. Feel free to comment with what you think of the Praetorian and where you'd travel in one.