Built in the UK by the company’s British Touring Car Championship partner, Team Dynamics, the mower is based on the HF2620 lawn tractor. The diminutive utility vehicle was re-engineered from the ground up, with a new chromoly steel frame and a 1000cc engine borrowed from a Honda VTR Firestorm sport bike.
Although 109 horsepower and 71 lb-ft of torque both fall well short of supercar territory, the mower’s 309-pound curb weight gives it a better power-to-weight ratio than a Bugatti Veyron 16.4. Power is delivered to custom ATV wheels and grippy track tires via a six-speed gear system with paddle shifters.
The company unveiled the project last year, claiming the mower would be capable of a top speed in excess of 130 mph. Guinness World Records officials were on hand this time to verify the “fastest mower” claim, which required two opposite 100-meter passes at an average speed of at least 88 mph and completed within one hour.
The Mean Mower easily smashed the record and met Team Dynamics’ goals, reaching past 116 mph. Naturally it also had to cut grass, a task which is performed with two electric motors and a 4000-rpm cutting cable — at a slightly slower speed of 15 mph.
“The original brief for Mean Mower was to create the world’s fastest lawnmower – and now it officially is, by some distance!” said Honda spokesperson Ellie Ostinelli.
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