It’s the must-have Papa’s Day gift of the future for the greenminded Dad in you life – The Husqvarna Panthera Leo.  The Panthera Leo is a ‘concept mower’ by Husqvarna that’s intended to demonstrate the company’s ‘commitment to sustainability’ as it echoes consumer preference for ‘self sustaining’ gardens – whatever all that means. [...]]]>

It’s the must-have Papa’s Day gift of the future for the greenminded Dad in you life – The Husqvarna Panthera Leo.  The Panthera Leo is a ‘concept mower’ by Husqvarna that’s intended to demonstrate the company’s ‘commitment to sustainability’ as it echoes consumer preference for ‘self sustaining’ gardens – whatever all that means. Wouldn’t a ‘self sustaining’ garden mow itself?  Then again, maybe a ‘self sustaining’ garden is really just an all-white garage near Wimbledon where you admire the Panthera Leo while sweeping a small pile of leaves.  But I digress!

Back to business – a few preemptive answers to the questions you’re undoubtedly asking yourself about this little slice of eco-vative brilliance right now: 

A) Yes, there apparently is such a thing as a ‘concept mower’ and this is what one looks like – it’s kind of silly and I wish it had gullwing doors, but given all the bad news out of Detroit these days, we’ve got to hang our horsepower hat somewhere;

B) Yes, the name Panthera Leo is fantastically goofy and was probably coined by a guy who spends his weekend seeking another Leonard Nemoy autograph for his collection;

C) Yes, the mower is equal parts far-out cool and absurdly ridiculous, but aren’t all wonderful innovations – think Wii Fit – and;

D) No, I don’t think the good folks at Husqvarna stopped to consider the fact that ride-on mower requiring suburbia is, by definition, one of ‘the problems’ when it comes to unsustainability – so the old Pantera Leo is a bit like our old pal the Hybrid Yukon.

But is any of that really the point?  Absolutely not.  The real point here is that no matter what I say or do, and no matter how eco-pious I’d ever attempt to be, as a fella I freakin love this thing – and I want one very very badly.  It’s a lawnmower with an LCD display for heaven’s sake!  This thing would induce Steve Jobs to cut his own lawn.

In fact, I’m probably going to spend the remainder of the afternoon writing begging emails to Husqvarna to develop concept weed whackers, concept chainsaws, concept rototillers, and some kind of really cool concept helmet/headgear for me to wear while working in the yard.  After all, there’s nothing cooler than pretending you’re John Connor while cutting the lawn, right?  Right?  I wonder if they’ll make one with a light saber holster so I can mix geek genres while I mow.

One last thing – Engadget’s post on the Panthera Leo includes a video showcase of the lawn-mowing badboy, and the video reveals the real pronunciation for Husqvarna.  It’s HYOOskvarna, not HUSKvara like I’ve been saying all along.  My Swedish friends will now accept me.  We’re just getting cooler by the minute…