New Torsus Terrastorm 2020 detailed: Will this be the toughest Volkswagen Crafter in the world?

Czech off-road specialists and self-styed “manufacturer of the world’s toughest, heavy duty off-road buses” has unveiled its latest product, the angry-sounding Terrastorm.

Based on a Volkswagen Crafter 4Motion, the Terrastorm will be the follow-up to the brand’s sole existing product – the MAN truck-based Praetorian which the brand pitches as “the world’s first heavy duty 4×4 off-road bus”.

The brand aims to be the world’s toughest 4×4 bus manufacturer.

Little is known about the Terrastorm as yet, with the brand only saying it will maintain the VW Crafter’s 4Motion system and be equipped with “heavy-duty off-road suspension”. It will also be available in a variety of configurations (perhaps the several different wheelbase options that the Crafter is already available in) to suit up to 21 passengers, and is pitched for use in “some of the toughest jobs such as mining and emergency aid – no matter the location”.

Torsus says the built-in-Slovakia Terrastorm bus will go on sale in Europe in late 2020. There is no word on whether the brand’s two-vehicle line-up will be offered in Australia (or right-hand drive at all), but the brand says it “operates and sells in global markets to customers in heavy industry, utility, and government service sectors”.

The brand’s MAN-based Praetorian has gone on to win awards in Europe for its product design. The Praetorian is powered by a 6.9-litre inline six diesel good for 179kW/925Nm torque, has 400mm of ground clearance, sits up to 35 people, and has “military-grade coating” on its bodywork.