Czech Manufacturer Introduces Off-Road School Bus

Czech vehicle maker Torsus reveals the Praetorian School Bus, designed for off-road use and featuring all-wheel drive, raised ride height and ground clearance, and uprated tires.

The Slovakia-built school bus shares a platform with the Torsus Praetorian off-road bus powered by a 6.9L inline 6-cyl. diesel producing 290 hp.

It can carry 35 children “across some of the world’s most rugged environments in comfort and safety,” Torsus says in a news release.

Specially adapted seats are designed with digital modeling, covered with a polymer protective coating and equipped with a seatbelt suitable for all ages. A foldable armrest and hip support bar on the seat’s aisle side are optional.

The Praetorian bus is based on a heavy-duty chassis supplied by MAN, a German truck and bus maker majority-owned by Volkswagen and powered by a MAN engine and drivetrain.

The base, or “empty shell,” Praetorian is priced at €153,000 ($181,000) but can be customized for military, mining, emergency response, cargo hauling and “anti-riot” use, among other options, Torsus says on its website.

“The Praetorian by Torsus is made to be adaptable and versatile, so naturally we are looking at other ways the bus can be used in various situations around the world,” Torsus CEO Vakhtang Dzhukashvili says.

“The school bus was one of the first ideas we had, as the Praetorian is a safe and solid vehicle that we know can keep its occupants protected in even the most testing of conditions."