TORSUS Unveils Next-Generation PRAETORIAN Heavy-Duty 4×4 Off-Road Bus with Host of New Technical Upgrades to Conquer Any Terrain

TORSUS, manufacturer of the world’s most challenging, most-capable heavy-duty off-road buses, has unveiled the next generation of their flagship bus, PRAETORIAN. A raft of more than 50 all-new technical updates and options for 2024 amp up the PRAETORIAN’s class-leading ability to travel where others dare not tread, take on the most challenging jobs, and safely transport up to 35 occupants comfortably across any terrain in any conditions, anywhere in the world.

The TORSUS PRAETORIAN takes its name and indomitable character from the legendary Praetorian Guard. An elite regiment of the Imperial Roman Army formed in 509 BC, the Praetorian Guard was essentially the world’s first special forces unit.

Members were highly skilled veterans, hand-picked from the best army in the world for their superior fitness, unmatched combat prowess and ability to keep a cool head in the heat of battle. Wherever the most challenging and vital tasks were set ­­– protecting the emperor, gathering intelligence, operating far behind enemy lines – only a Praetorian would suffice.

TORSUS designed and developed the PRAETORIAN 4×4 off-road bus to match the ethos of Rome’s most famed and most feared regiment. Whatever the weather, whatever the terrain ­– mountain, desert, forest ­– and whatever the application ­– mining, rescue, defence ­– the TORSUS PRAETORIAN is engineered to operate at the tip of the spear and to get the mission done, no matter how impossible. And now, in third-generation guise, the PRAETORIAN lifts the bar even higher, once again setting standards that no would-be competitor can ever hope to match.

From the fully upgraded suspension, strengthened chassis, all-around disc brakes, redesigned cabin, upgraded heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC), improved maintenance accessibility, greater range of seating configurations, and more, no detail has been overlooked, and no solution spared.

In addition, TORSUS’s unrelenting determination to use the best materials and advanced manufacturing techniques contributes to the 8.7-metre, polymer-bodied PRAETORIAN TG3’s ability to transport occupants in even greater comfort and refinement than its predecessor.

The enhancements to the PRAETORIAN’s suspension and chassis also provide greater agility, enabling drivers to unlock better the maximum potential of the bus’s 1,150Nm six-cylinder MAN diesel engine, 12-speed transmission and heavy-duty 4×4 off-road drivetrain.

Superior Comfort and Agility

One of the most significant engineering upgrade packages implemented on the new PRAETORIAN is not apparent at first glance. An extensively uprated chassis and suspension system sits underneath the vehicle’s polymeric exterior body, which features a highly protective polyurea top coating.

Uprated silent blocks have been upgraded, and the name has been given to the bespoke, heavy-duty, semi-spherical rubber pillows that support the brackets that connect the vehicle’s MAN chassis and the superstructure. The new silent blocks provide better comfort, articulation, and minimal road noise and vibration, even when the PRAETORIAN negotiates through a boulder field.

The PRAETORIAN is further supported by introducing new mounting points for the superstructure floor, which enhances rigidity to give passengers a more relaxed travelling experience. However, after extensive testing, the TORSUS engineering team was not easily satisfied and decided to develop even more extreme technical solutions.

Multiple Transmission Choices

The strong, beating heart of the TORSUS PRAETORIAN off-road bus is its six-cylinder, 6.9-litre diesel engine, which dispenses a mammoth 1150NM of torque from anywhere between 1,200 and 1,750 RPM. 

This robustly proven unit effortlessly distributes its phenomenal pulling power through a state-of-the-art MAN 12-speed Tipmatic ZF AStronic transmission and a heavy-duty 4×4 off-road drivetrain featuring front-axle, inter-axle, and rear-axle differential locks. Along with the independent heating radiator area, the engine bay is protected by an automatic Blazecut powder fire suppression system.

The TORSUS powertrain’s sheer technical ability is backed up by sophisticated and intuitive driver control that is simply unmatched in the sector. Six driving modes can be selected with the touch of a button.

It is introducing a new, ultra-powerful 12-tonne 30-metre front winch, which aids the PRAETORIAN in getting to its destination, no matter what. This winch can haul obstacles out of the way or help the vehicle cross the boggy ground.

TORSUS has equipped the PRAETORIAN with massive 19.5-inch brake discs on the front and rear axle to provide best-in-class stopping power.

More Excellent Choice of Seating Configurations

The PRAETORIAN’s heating, ventilation and air-con (HVAC) package was subject to a robust engineering interrogation to determine and act upon any areas where improvements could be made. As a result, the vehicle’s heating circuit is now connected directly to the engine cooling system. This enhancement enables waste heat from the engine to heat the superstructure of the bus more rapidly and use bus-independent heating as a motor preheating function.

Passenger comfort has also been improved in hot weather, thanks to the integration of new air vents that distribute cool air more uniformly and efficiently. Sound quality has been upgraded, too, thanks to introducing a separate Pioneer audio amplifier.

The next-generation PRAETORIAN offers an even greater range of seating configurations, with 14 options now available for customers.

Enhanced Features

Inside, PRAETORIAN benefits from a complete redesign of the driving environment. The upgrade includes a new dashboard, gear shifter, buttons, switchgear, controls, and an illuminated indication panel.

Additional air vents have been integrated at the ends of the dashboard to prevent the windscreen from misting up in monsoon conditions, and new sunblinds have been fitted to better deal with the glare of the desert sun. Introducing an electric driver’s step further improves life for the person behind the wheel.

Given the often challenging and, at times, outright hostile terrain the PRAETORIAN must operate in, driver and passenger protection is a critical factor. With the latest variant, TORSUS has significantly improved safety by introducing lane detection and light and rain sensor technology. Meanwhile, new side windows and rear-view mirrors provide greater visibility.

During the project, the TORSUS engineering team also thoroughly reevaluated all of the PRAETORIAN’s electrical systems. It introduced new electrical insulation to ensure more efficient, seamless integration with the original MAN chassis wiring.

Front-End Redesign for More Demanding Performance

The bus’s front mask’s maximum opening height was increased by approximately 30cm to ensure greater access for service and maintenance tasks such as filling fluids and changing air and cabin filters. In contrast, the windshield washer fluid tank was repositioned to access the filling point better.

The front mask also has a double-latching mechanism and four additional centre pins to ensure it remains securely in the closed position even while absorbing unrelenting punishment over the roughest terrain.

The third-generation PRAETORIAN TG3 production has already commenced, and the vehicle is already in service in markets such as Spain, Germany, and Ukraine. Pricing starts from 225 831 EUR (GBP 192,112), and the car is available in Shell, Transporter, and Minesite specifications. The MAN chassis and powertrain are fully warranted and serviceable by all MAN suppliers worldwide.