New Torsus Terrastorm off-road minibus bounces in
The Torsus Terrastorm is a beefed-up version of the all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Crafter – and it offers seating for up to 20 passengers
Torsus, the Slovakian vehicle conversion specialist, has launched a beefed-up version of the Volkswagen Crafter. It’s called the Terrastorm – and it features a range of mechanical and cosmetic revisions which the company says will make the van perform better off-road.
The new Torsus Terrastorm is available to order in the UK now, in a choice of either minibus or panel van body styles, with prices starting from £52,290.95. First deliveries are expected to arrive during the Autumn of this year.
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The Terrastorm is fitted with the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine as the range-topping Volkswagen Crafter, which has an output of 174bhp and 410Nm of torque. The powertrain is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and a four-wheel-drive system as standard, although buyers can have an eight-speed automatic as an optional extra.
However, while the Terrastorm’s engine remains unchanged over the standard Transporter, Torsus has completely overhauled the van’s chassis to make it more capable off-road. Upgrades include beefier off-road suspension, metal underbody protection panels, tough anti-roll bars, stronger 17-inch alloy wheels, knobbly off-road tyres and a locking rear differential.
The upgrades give the Terrastorm 290mm of ground clearance, approach and departure angles of 26 and 20 degrees respectively and a maximum wading depth of 690mm – but buyers can also opt for Torsus’s “Deep Wave” package, which adds further waterproofing for the engine bay and electrical system, increasing the van’s wading depth to 820mm.
Cosmetic tweaks over the standard Volkswagen Transporter are equally extensive, including chunky front and rear bumpers, protective grilles for the van’s fog lamps and tail lights, an aggressive bull-bar, new side-steps, fresh spot lamps and some tough plastic body cladding.
Torsus even offers the Terrastorm with vandal-proof polycarbonate windows, which not only prevent yobbos from breaking into the vehicle, but stops branches and rocks from puncturing the glass when navigating off-road trails. For even more off-road ability, buyers can spec a winch rated to pull 5,500kg as an optional extra.
Inside, there’s seating for up to 20 passengers – and every version comes as standard with air-conditioning, faux-leather upholstery, and water-resistant flooring. Torsus also offers an “extra active” seating package, which swaps the standard van’s conventional seats and three-point belts for more supportive bucket seats and five-point harnesses.
The firm’s Cargo panel van variant features all the upgrades over the minibus model, but removes the rear seats completely to provide a load space of 11.3 cubic metres . Finally, Torsus offers an Ambulance specification for medical professionals, which is outfitted with a broad range of medical equipment and a stretcher.
What do you make of the Torsus Terrastorm? Let us know in the comments section below…
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