Czech startup unveils an extreme off-roading children’s bus

Czech automaker Torsus announced its Praetorian vehicle range this spring, promising to release a wide assortment of rugged vans and buses with unsurpassed off-road capabilities. The latest of these is a school bus seemingly capable of surviving an apocalypse.

Designed for carrying up to 35 children through the roughest of road conditions, the Praetorian School Bus comes with a whopping 34 centimeters (13.3 inches) of ground clearance and can wade through water up to 900 cm (nearly 3 feet) high. And even if the water somehow finds its way inside, the special seat covers and polymer coatings will ensure that no mold or bacteria set in. For their part, the seat belts are adjustable and can therefore efficiently hold in place kids of all ages.

The bus uses MAN-branded heavy-duty chassis and engine. The latter runs on diesel fuel, has 6.9 liters of displacement and produces 290 PS (286 hp / 213 kW) along with 1,150 Nm (848 lb-ft) of torque. Coupled with an AWD and two diff locks, the powertrain looks like the ultimate means of bestowing enlightenment upon the uneducated young ones, unstoppable by such trivialities as absent roads, natural disasters and possibly the end of the world, too.

Oh, and before you ask: no, this is not a joke, nor a fantasy-land concept. Consider contacting Torsus if you would like to discuss the configuration and pricing of your own Praetorian School Bus.