Off-roading is, for now, limited to a handful of people driving in a pickup truck or an expedition vehicle that fits no more than eight. What if you’re a team of 16 or a group of 32 classmates planning an off-roading adventure? Thankfully, Torsus has taken it upon itself to build the “Mad Max of coaches;” a 35-seater off-road bus, which can handle pretty much any terrain you can think of, even if it’s driving up to a live volcano.
This is the Torsus Praetorian, and it has been up to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, which is just under 11,000 ft., with Gear Magazine’s Tom Ford in charge. Developed by Torsus, a brand of husband-and-wife-run Pulsar Expo, which is headquartered in the Czech Republic and has its production facilities in Slovakia, the Praetorian is an all-terrain bus based on a MAN TGM 4×4 chassis and created especially for transporting miners, emergency personnel, and more.
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Built for harsh environments, the Torsus Praetorian features plastic body panels that are easy to replace. It weighs 13,400 kg, has a 6.9-litre straight-six diesel engine which produces 290bhp and 848 lb-ft torque. That torque is transmitted to all four wheels through a 12-speed gearbox, which paired with air suspension and all-terrain tires makes the Praetorian a ride to be on when you want a tough carrier for your adventure. If you’re thinking how crazy Torsus Praetorian would make for a? You’re wish is granted!
While an all-electric version of the Praetorian may be in the works, Torsus Praetorian Liberra, a.k.a the ExpeditionLiner, a first of its kind off-road motorhome is almost here. Created jointly by All4Bus and Dämmler, the Liberra is a standard Torsus Praetorian on the outside and in rugged professionalism, with a tweak in the interior to fashion it into an “expedition liner,” a large, bus-sized luxury motorhome fashioned for expeditions. The Liberra comes in two layouts, which are pretty alike in the front portion, whlie the bed in the rear changes completely in orientation from one layout to the other.
On the front (right behind the cabin) is a two-person seating section, with individual seats side by side. The seamless interior is completely open, sans any partitions for privacy. Right behind is the kitchen slab laid out with a four-burner stove and an oven. The sink is on a separate section of the countertop, discreetly keeping the dry area from the wet workstation. The kitchen has ample storage space underneath the countertop and also makes room for a 90-liter fridge.
On the other side, behind the driver seat, is the dinette with two benches and a dining table, a contraption that becomes a double bed by night, ensuring that the Liberra, along with the master bedroom in the extreme end, can sleep up to four people very comfortably. The wet bathroom alongside comprises a shower and toilet. The motorhome’s electrical needs are taken care of by a 3,000W inverter. It has a 250-liter fresh water tank and a rooftop air conditioner for extended time on the rough terrains. All4Bus and Dämmler are planning to get the Torsus Praetorian Liberra into production for approximately $650,000 (€550,000).
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