TORSUS introduces new third-generation PRAETORIAN TG3 heavy-duty off-road bus with more than 50 all-new technical updates and options for 2024 Built to operate at the tip of the spear and master the world’s harshest terrain and toughest environments, PRAETORIAN utilises upgraded MAN chassis and powertrain, fully warranted and serviceable by all MAN suppliers anywhere in the world 1,150Nm 6-cyl MAN diesel engine, heavy-duty 4×4 off-road drivetrain and 12-speed transmission; PRAETORIAN effortlessly climbs 65% inclines and fords 680mm deep rivers State-of-the-art front and rear axle 19.5” disc brakes provide unmatched stopping power New rear air suspension and bespoke chassis/superstructure mountings transform handling, usability and comfort across any terrain, in any weather conditions Redesigned cabin with new dashboard, gear shifter, controls, buttons and panels Uprated heating, ventilation, and air-con, and next-gen engine insulation improves comfort for driver and up to 34 + 1, with 14 seat configuration options available New 12-tonne 30-meter front steel winch cable to clear obstacles and cross ultra-challenging terrain Pricing for the new PRAETORIAN TG3 starts from 225,831 EUR (GBP 192,112); vehicle available in Shell, Transporter and Minesite specifications For more information, visit www.torsus.eu Media assets can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/PRAETORIAN_TG3 Prague, 11 June 2024: TORSUS, manufacturer of the world’s toughest, 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, to take on the toughest 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 its 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 toughest and most important 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 to 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-round disc brakes, redesigned cabin, uprated heating, air-con and ventilation (HVAC), improved maintenance accessibility, greater range of seating configurations and more, no detail has been overlooked, and no solution spared. In addition, the unrelenting determination of TORSUS to utilise the best materials and advanced manufacturing techniques, contributes to the ability of the 8.7-metre, polymer-bodied PRAETORIAN TG3 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 better unlock 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. A hunger for progress Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, Founder and CEO of TORSUS, said: “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. 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. “We proactively collect data from our customers all the time, and they give us vital feedback from extreme use case scenarios. And this data enables us to design and engineer highly focused technical enhancements that deliver mission-specific, real-world advantages as clearly demonstrated by the next-generation PRAETORIAN, and our smaller, faster, and even more nimble TERRASTORM.” Suspension and chassis upgrades deliver superior comfort and agility One of the most significant engineering upgrade packages implemented on the new PRAETORIAN is not obvious at first glance. Underneath the vehicle’s polymeric exterior body, which features an extreme protective polyurea top coating, sits an extensively uprated chassis and suspension system. Uprated silent blocks, the name given to the bespoke, heavy-duty, semi-spherical rubber pillows that support the brackets providing the connection between the vehicle’s MAN chassis and the superstructure, have been upgraded. The new silent blocks provide better comfort and articulation and keep road noise and vibration to a minimum, even when the PRAETORIAN is negotiating its way through a boulder field. 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. However, the TORSUS engineering team is not so easily satisfied, and during extensive testing, decided to develop even more extreme technical solutions. Tomas Micuda, TORSUS Technical Manager, explained: “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. 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…
