Savage Torsus 4×4 bus evolves into camp-anywhere RV it was born to be

The instant we saw the Torsus Praetorian off-road bus for the first time, we knew: That would make a killer expedition motorhome. There was a false start or two, but the big, evil beast of a bus has finally completed its destiny. And it’s done it with more flair and style than we would have imagined, rivalling a few million-dollar expedition vehicles with an upscale, rustic-chic interior living environment that would feel at home parked outside the bustling marinas of Monaco, as well as standing alone in Patagonia or the Gobi Desert.

The company starts each build off with a bare MAN TGM 4×4 chassis, to which it adds its own stretched, protective-coated fibreglass body capable of housing up to 35 seats. That composite skin is reinforced below by a full, shark-cage-like tubular frame.

Powered by a 285-hp six-cylinder diesel firing out a massive 848 lb-ft (1,050 Nm) of torque, the 28.5-foot-long (8.7-m) rig includes a 4WD system with three locking differentials and on/off-road gearing split, rear air suspension, and big, knobbed Michelin XZL 365/80 R20 all-terrain tires. Its lowest axle point rides close to 14 inches (35 cm) above the ground below, and it’s ready to dive into waters almost 2 feet (60 cm) deep and tackle gradients up to 60 degrees.

And Torsus has managed to continually improve it throughout the short period it has been in existence.

As we all recall, tumultuous global times soon followed. Then, three, four, five years … no sign of an actual Torsus off-road motorhome. It’s now close to six whole years since we first looked at Torsus’ overland RV ambitions, and we’re finally seeing the ripe, juicy fruit watered by those ambitions arrive in the real world.

 

Developed collaboratively by German Torsus distributor All4Bus and Dämmler, an 80-year-old camper and furniture building specialist, the Praetorian Liberra features Torsus’ standard wild, animalistic exterior and mechanicals, tamed only by an interior layout that looks pulled straight out of a high-end luxury motorhome. All4Bus calls it an Expedition Liner – “liner” being the term the German RV industry uses regularly for large, bus-sized luxury motorhomes, such as a Volkner Performance S or Dembell.

While the Liberra seems destined to ultimately be a custom-made-to-order package reflecting the layout, specs, and preferences of each buyer, the demonstration variant that All4Bus and Dämmler have been showing in Germany earns its “Liner” tag.

Most expedition motorhomes in this class feature an independent RV box and a driver’s cab. Still, Torsus’ unique bus-style body construction creates a more cohesive, integrated space that mimics Class A road yachts, albeit without any slide-out expansion modules. This creates a more open, comfortable layout on road and trail, seating two passengers behind the driver’s cockpit in individual seats mounted side by side.

 

There’s no division between that belted travel seating area and the long living area behind it, making for seamless transition between long-distance travel and life at base camp. The main floor plan highlighted in Dämmler’s materials features a unique split kitchen. It has a full range with a four-burner stove and oven directly behind the seats, and an independent sink block located behind the side entry door, separating the two – essentially a “dry” kitchen layout in place of a dry bathroom.

Both kitchen units have drawers below, and the range block features a countertop. The 90-L Dometic fridge is built into a wall console across the way, trimmed to match the greater white panelling.

 

Behind the driver’s seat, the dinette seats all four occupants on two independent benches, split by a dining table; there is no need for the driving area seats to swivel around. The unit then transforms into a double bed at night, allowing the Liberra to sleep a total of four people. A tall storage and shelf console separates the dinette from the fridge, further enhancing the homey ambience, which is also enhanced by warm wood trim and cool, neutral fixtures.

As mentioned above, the layout doesn’t include the standard dry bathroom setup typically found in this grade of RV. The wet bathroom appears to be plenty long for comfortable shower and toilet use without any tricks or hidden fixtures.

 

Further bringing the Liberra together into one single living space from tip to tail is its extensive glazing. The large bus windshield blends seamlessly into full-length window lines on both sides immediately after the A-pillars, providing generous views of the scenery from all parts of the floor plan, including the rear bedroom.

Standard features of note include a Victron dual-lithium battery electrical system with a 3,000-W inverter and a smart control panel, a 250-L fresh water capacity, underfloor heating, a Truma Combi diesel air and water heater, and a 2.4-kW Truma rooftop air conditioner.

All4Bus and Dämmler plan to put the Praetorian Liberra into small-scale production, utilising modular components that can be mixed and matched to create various layouts. While pricing seems likely to vary wildly based on individual customisation selections, Dämmler lists a base price of €550,000 (approx. US$635,550).

Source: All4Bus, Dämmler