You’ve heard of Rhodes Scholars, right? Well, Czech-based Torsus Praetorian School Bus provides transportation designed for no-roads scholars.
Claiming the “most challenging school runs in the harshest environments around the world can be completed in comfort and safety,” the company has unveiled “the most-extreme school bus in the world.”
The Praetorian School Bus has such features as raised ride height, 4-wheel drive, rugged Michelin all-terrain tires, even seats covered with math and science designs, but also with a protective coating. Seats also have safety belts, folding armrests and hip-support bars for seats on the aisle.
The buses can carry 35 children “safely in the most inhospitable conditions,” the company says.
Torsus uses chassis and powertrains — a 290-horsepower 5.9-liter diesel engine — produced by truck-maker Man.
The buses are priced around €200,000 ($240,000).
Torsus chief executive Vakhtang Dzhukashvili is looking into other uses for such buses, but its first priority was providing for children.
“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,” he said.
Praetorian’s website also shows versions of the bus customized for evacuation emergency work, as a command center, and for military use.
Torsus, which has partnership programs with Man and Volkswagen, also produces a heavy-duty 4×4 minibus called the Terrastorm.
For more information, visit the Torsus website.
Great idea! Attractive package, could prove most useful in U.S. northern states, such as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, the Dakotas and Alaska. As far as the kids are concerned they get to ride in a real “cool” machine. Although there is a down side from the kids perspective, fewer snow days off because of heavy snow conditions and road conditions.