TORSUS has unveiled the next generation of its flagship bus, PRAETORIAN. A raft of more than 50 technical updates and options for 2024 improve the PRAETORIAN's ability to travel off-road and safely transport up to 35 occupants comfortably across any terrain.
The TORSUS PRAETORIAN takes its name from the Praetorian Guard, an elite regiment of the Imperial Roman Army formed in 509 BC. Members were highly skilled and were hand-picked for their fitness, combat prowess, and ability to keep a cool head in the heat of battle. Wherever the toughest and most important tasks were set, only a Praetorian would suffice.
TORSUS says it designed and developed the PRAETORIAN 4x4 off-road bus to match the ethos of Rome's most famed and feared regiment.
TORSUS upgraded the suspension; strengthened the chassis and all-round disc brakes; redesigned the cabin; uprated the heating, air-con, and ventilation (HVAC); improved maintenance accessibility; added a greater range of seating configurations; and more.
The PRAETORIAN TG3 is an 8.7-metre polymer-bodied off-road bus. The suspension and chassis upgrades improve the bus' agility. The bus utilizes a 1,150Nm six-cylinder MAN diesel engine, 12-speed transmission, and heavy-duty 4x4 off-road drivetrain.
"At TORSUS, we know if we want to create the toughest off-road bus in the world, we've got to be tough on ourselves as a company and tough on ourselves as designers and engineers," said Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, founder and CEO of TORSUS. "To continue to lead the market, we know we can't just sit on our laurels – we've got to push hard and innovate, and we've got to do it all the time.
"We have a saying in Ukraine, ‘A hungry dog is stronger than a satisfied wolf,' and at TORSUS, we are always very hungry for progress. Fortunately, our customers, who operate in the harshest and most challenging sectors all over the globe, such as disaster relief, medical provision, motorsport, forestry, mining, farming, tourism, and more, help us deliver that progress.
One of the most significant engineering upgrade packages implemented on the new PRAETORIAN is not obvious at first glance. Underneath the vehicle's exterior, which features a protective polyurea top coating, is an uprated chassis and suspension system.
Uprated silent blocks, the name given to the heavy-duty, semi-spherical rubber pillows that support the brackets and provide the connection between the vehicle's MAN chassis and the superstructure, have been upgraded. The new silent blocks provide comfort and articulation and keep road noise and vibration to a minimum.
The PRAETORIAN is further supported by the introduction of new mounting points for the superstructure floor, which enhances rigidity to give passengers a more relaxed travelling experience.
"Following feedback from our customers around the globe and a 20-month R&D programme, we have added a complete front air suspension assembly between the chassis and the superstructure for the first time," Tomas Micuda, TORSUS' technical manager, explained. "This provides a higher level of compensation for the weight of the front portion of the superstructure and gives the TORSUS even greater control, composure, and safety, no matter how rough the terrain gets.
"At the rear, the leaf springs found on the previous PRAETORIAN have been replaced by a new air suspension system on the latest model. That amps up the comfort levels for passengers, improves agility, and gives the driver even more freedom to utilize the full potential of the MAN diesel engine to bolster the PRAETORIAN's ability to cross terrain that drivers of any other off-road vehicle would never even dare to approach.
"We have also introduced a special algorithm that benefits vehicles with a high gravity point, such as the PRAETORIAN TG3. This significantly reduces the ‘top heavy' feel of the bus, especially off-road. This deep level of engineering provides a safe and highly composed feel that makes it easy to control the PRAETORIAN, despite its considerable size and high-power output. The technology also renders it intuitive and effortless to control, which in turn makes for ease of operator training."
The TORSUS PRAETORIAN off-road bus utilizes a six-cylinder, 6.9-litre diesel engine, dispensing 1150NM of torque from anywhere between 1,200 to 1,750 RPM. This unit distributes its pulling power through a MAN 12-speed Tipmatic ZF AStronic transmission and a 4x4 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 ability of the TORSUS powertrain is backed up with driver control that allows for six driving modes that can be selected.
The PRAETORIAN's ability to get to its destination is aided by the introduction of a new 12-tonne 30-metre front winch, which can be used to haul obstacles out of the way or help the vehicle cross the boggy ground.
TORSUS has equipped the PRAETORIAN with 19.5-inch brake discs on the front and rear axle.
The vehicle's heating circuit is now connected directly to the engine cooling system. This enhancement enables waste heat from the engine to heat up the superstructure of the bus more rapidly and use bus-independent heating as a motor preheating function.
Passenger comfort has been improved in hot weather too, thanks to the integration of new air vents that distribute cool air more uniformly and efficiently. Sound quality has been upgraded too, due to a separate Pioneer audio amplifier.
The PRAETORIAN offers more seating configurations with 14 different options now available.
The PRAETORIAN benefits from a redesign of the driving environment. The upgrade includes features such as a new dashboard, gear shifter, buttons, switchgear, and controls, along with an illuminated indication panel. Additional air vents have been integrated at the ends of the dashboard to prevent the windscreen from misting up in harsh conditions and new sunblinds fitted to better deal with the glare of the desert sun. An electric driver's step was also added to the vehicle.
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 with the introduction of lane detection, as well as light and rain sensor technology. Meanwhile, new side windows and rear-view mirrors provide greater visibility.
During the project, the TORSUS engineering team also took the opportunity to re-evaluate all of the PRAETORIAN's electrical systems and added new electrical insulation to ensure more efficient, seamless integration with the original MAN chassis wiring.
"Every TORSUS PRAETORIAN is designed to shrug off water, mud, gravel, dust, sand, snow, ice, and virtually anything nature cares to throw at it. We're well aware that many of our buses never get to see a tarmac road again once they start their working lives, never mind getting parked up in an immaculate bus garage every night. That thinking was very much to the fore when we redesigned and rebuilt the PRAETORIAN's front mask," continues Vakhtang Dzhukashvili.
The maximum opening height of the bus' front mask was increased by approximately 30 centimetres to improve access for service and maintenance tasks such as filling fluids and changing air and cabin filters, while the windshield washer fluid tank was repositioned to better access the filling point. A double latching mechanism was also added to the front mask, with four additional centre pins added to ensure the mask remains securely in the closed position, even while soaking up unrelenting punishment over the roughest possible terrain.
Production of the third-generation PRAETORIAN TG3 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 vehicle is available in shell, transporter, and minesite specifications. The MAN chassis and powertrain are fully warranted and serviceable by all MAN suppliers.
