Ferris
For a car site, we write an awful lot about mowers. But if you’re a gearhead who somehow isn’t part of the online lawn care community, how else would you know about the double-dually Ventrac 4200 XVD that the EPA killed? Or the Ferris IS6200, a gigantic zero-turn with a Caterpillar turbodiesel that’s larger than a Honda Civic engine? This blog is about the latter, and boy, what a machine it is.
Powering the Ferris is a CAT C1.7, a three-cylinder turbodiesel that’s more commonly found in wood chippers and trenchers. Its displacement measures 1.7 liters, or 1,700cc — good for 48 horsepower and as much as 122 lb-ft of torque, with a life expectancy of 4,000 to 5,000 hours.
That engine is paired to a transmission with dual 21cc hydro gear pumps and 20.6-cubic-inch Parker wheel motors with an external oil cooler. That powertrain combo enables the rig to hit 12 miles per hour going forward and 6 mph in reverse. Speed isn’t all that matters, of course, and the 72-inch deck with a hydraulic lift is meant to cut as much grass as possible while still fitting around landscaping features like ponds, rock work, trees, and the like.
Ferris
The Ferris IS6200 has a handful of other features that are automotive-adjacent. The mower sports a digital gauge cluster, which displays engine speed, torque, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and battery charge. Cooler still is the independent suspension with adjustable coilovers.
It certainly weighs as much as a track car, though. Ferris’ spec sheet lists the dry weight at 2,518 pounds, and that’s before you fill the 15-gallon fuel tank. All this proves that the IS6200 is not your granddad’s riding mower.
Caterpillar
Anyone looking to buy one for their own property or start a commercial mowing business will have to fork over at least $41,854. The warranty is solid across the board: all non-engine and non-suspension components are covered for two years and unlimited hours or four years and 500 hours — whichever comes first. Ferris warranties the suspension for 10 years, and the engine is covered by CAT for 24 months or 2,000 hours, with unlimited hours for the first 12 months.
It’s an extraordinary machine for an equally extraordinary price tag — but for commercial operators who put serious hours on their equipment, the CAT-powered IS6200 makes a compelling case for itself.
