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This Ultra-Rugged Off-Roader Is a 4×4 Built to Tackle the Most Extreme Rescues

A heavy-duty all-terrain rig is blazing new trails in its efforts to deliver life-saving support.

Close-up of the front left side of a muddy off-road vehicle with a blue, white, and red striped paint job, featuring a rugged tire and a black fender flare. The vehicle is parked on a dirt surface with a rocky background.Torsus
Gray Van Dyke headshot

By Gray Van Dyke

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A few years ago, an upstart by the name of Torsus turned the notion of all-terrain capability on its head with a heavy-duty off-roader dubbed the ‘Praetorian.’

As cool a vehicle as it was with its rust-proof body and impressive fording depth, its appeal was limited by its size. It may have been an apocalypse-ready ride, but with up to 34 passenger seats, the Praetorian was (and is), well, a bus.

Since that time, Torsus has expanded its offerings through the launch of a smaller platform called ‘Terrastorm.’ 

A blue and white off-road ambulance with red stripes is driving on a dirt path, kicking up dust behind it. The vehicle has rugged tires and a roof-mounted light bar, with "TORSUS" displayed on the front grille and "AMBULANCE" written on the side along with emergency numbers.
The Terrastorm brings unrivaled off-road capability to the ambulance service.
Torsus

In addition to giving buyers an ultra-rugged, overlanding-ready off-roader, the model also does double duty as a service vehicle (i.e., the ambulance pictured above). Here’s what makes it excel as an all-terrain rescue option.

An all-terrain overhaul

Like its off-duty counterparts, the Terrastorm ambulance is based on the VW Crafter/MAN TGE 4Motion chassis and comes powered by a twin-turbo 2.0-liter diesel good for 177 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque. In incorporating the platform, Torsus implements several key changes.

A blue and white off-road ambulance with red stripes is driving on a dirt path, kicking up dust behind it. The vehicle has rugged tires and a roof-mounted light bar, with "TORSUS" displayed on the front grille and "AMBULANCE" written on the side along with emergency numbers. The background shows a rough, hilly terrain.
This is one rig that can deliver life-saving support no matter the conditions of the road (or lack thereof).
Torsus

For starters, it now rides almost two inches higher than stock, as total ground clearance comes to a towering 10 inches. In combination with some reinforcements to the suspension and added underbody protection, the extra ride height means that this ambulance is fit to go just about anywhere. 

To ensure that it has the traction to do so — regardless of the terrain — Torsus equips the Terrastorm with its Torsus 4×4 HD system. As such, the rig benefits from locking differentials on every axle and a low-range transfer case, features that help it traverse everything from mud and sand to big stones and steep climbs.

Should the route involve deep rivers or excessive dust, the Terrastorm ambulance has you covered there, too. As part of an ‘extreme wading’ option, Torsus will equip the 4×4 with a snorkel and breather kit that allows for fording depths of up to 20 inches. It also adds watertight door sealing to keep things from getting waterlogged.

Blue Torsus ambulance driving on a muddy forest road, splashing water. The vehicle has emergency lights on the roof and a medical symbol on the hood.
Torsus can equip the Terrastorm with an extreme wading kit that allows for fording of up to 20 inches.
Torsus

Rolling on some chunky all-terrain rubber and wrapped in light guards and other protective gear, the Terrastorm is a vehicle that’s built to take you into the furthest depths of the unknown. Thanks to this ambulance’s emergency accoutrements, it can deliver life-saving support, too.

Equipped for emergency

When turning a Terrastorm into an ambulance model, Torsus looks to local municipalities to ensure that the vehicle is up to snuff. Be it compliant high-vis markings or the correct emergency lights, the brand will build as regulation demands.

Side view of an ambulance with its sliding door open, revealing organized medical equipment inside, including oxygen tanks, a foldable stretcher, red and blue medical bags, and other emergency supplies secured with straps. The exterior of the ambulance is white with blue and red markings and features a blue Star of Life symbol.
The integrated, external storage locker is a nifty feature.
Torsus

Similarly, the interior can be spec’d with everything from a basic transport unit to a full-on rolling intensive care ward. The long list of available equipment also includes things like defibrillators, ventilators, electrocardiograph machines and resuscitation backpacks.  

Torsus praises the smart layout, but it’s the additional storage that’s really the coolest party trick. While ambulances don’t typically feature sliding side doors, this overlander-based platform boasts an auxiliary storage locker.

Three off-road vehicles are parked on a dirt surface in front of a rocky cliff. From left to right, there is a blue and white ambulance van with red stripes and emergency lights, a green and black rugged bus with large tires, and a black van with tinted windows. All vehicles have the brand name "TORSUS" displayed on the front. The ground in front of the vehicles has a large puddle reflecting their images.
Torsus offers a range of off-road-ready vehicles that can be customized to your heart’s desire.
Torsus

Along with providing additional storage space, it’s a feature that guarantees quick access to oxygen, tools and other critical emergency gear when on the go.

Yours to configure

If you’d like to get your hands on a Terrastorm (or any other Torsus offering), you can head to the brand’s website. There, you can configure your vehicle and inquire for more information on how to order.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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