Standard Kart

The Standard Kart is a type of kart that appears in the Mario Kart series. They first appeared in Mario Kart DS and appeared in all Mario Kart games afterward. Before DS, all standard karts are the Pipe Frame model, though the Toad Kart and the Red Fire (alongside their identical counterparts) from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! are similar to the Standard Karts in design. Standard Karts generally have balanced attributes, not usually having any advantage or disadvantages in any particular stat. In Mario Kart DS, there are several variations of the Standard Kart, though each has stats that vary with each character or weight class.

Being a basic vehicle, the Standard Kart closely resembles a real go-kart, unlike other karts in the series.

Mario Kart DS
The Standard Kart made its first appearance in Mario Kart DS. Each playable character has a Standard kart, being named Standard Kart followed by an abbreviation of the character's name (MR for Mario, LG for Luigi etc.) These karts are redesigned, having white bumpers and a hood of different color palettes that matches the character's color. The decal of the character is shown over the hood, although the player can replace it for his or her own in the emblem maker option. Each character's Standard Kart has its own unique stats (though they also depend on the weight class of the character). Lightweight characters have better handling and acceleration while heavyweight characters have higher speed and weight. All Standard Karts in this game give two Mushrooms in Time Trials. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Donkey Kong, Wario and Bowser have the same eight different color palettes on their karts from Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. There are 13 Standard Karts in the game (though Shy Guys, only usable in multiplayer, have the same stats as Yoshi).

Standard Karts in this game come with a four-stroke engine with distinctive, high-pitched sound.

Mario Kart Wii
Standard Karts reappear in Mario Kart Wii with a new different design featuring a two-stroke twin cylinder engine with four exhaust pipes and a more powerful sound. This time, there is a Standard Kart for each individual weight class rather for each character. They are named Standard Kart S for lightweights, Standard Kart M for middleweights and Standard Kart L for heavyweights. Along with the Standard Karts, there are also Standard Bikes due to the introduction of bikes in the game. Each weight class of Standard Karts has its own stats that reflect on the respective weight class. Lightweights are generally better with all stats except for speed and weight while heavyweights are the opposite. All Standard Karts, along with the other karts, drift outwards.

Mario Kart 7
Standard Karts are redesigned in Mario Kart 7 with an appearance resembling the Toad Kart and Toadette Kart from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, while retaining the same engine sound from Mario Kart Wii. In this game, the Standard Karts (along with the other karts) are equipped with retractable hang-gliders and propellers for driving underwater. Unlike in past games, the kart doesn't offer any stat changes due to the main stats relying more on the weight class of the character and is shared for all characters. This game also introduces the Gold Standard, which does alter the stats, and the return of Pipe Frame, the kart that appeared in the first three Mario Kart games. Unique to this game, the Standard Kart's engine sound is not shared with any other vehicles and is recycled from the Wii Standard Kart with little changes to the idling and acceleration sounds.

Stats

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Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The Standard Kart returns in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, once again redesigned and looking identical to the one seen in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, but with slightly more rounded bodywork and smaller engine block. The Standard Kart does not add or subtract from the stats of a driver. Like previous counterparts, it has a two-stroke engine and its sound is shared with the Pipe Frame, Teddy Buggy, Wild Wiggler, Sneeker and Splat Buggy.

All CPU players may use this kart body, often pairing it with the Standard tires. However, the CPU-controlled heavyweights who have a large body frame (excluding Link) will always pair this kart body with the Monster tires instead.

Stats

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Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Pipe Frame (which was the standard kart at the time) appeared as a collectable trophy, where is was simply named "Kart".

The Mario Kart DS variations of the Standard Kart also appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U on the Mario Circuit stage. They appear in multiple colors and are driven by Shy Guys. They act as hazards which can KO the players if they aren't careful.

The Standard Karts in Mario Kart 8 are seen in the "Comet Observatory" trailer for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, where they are driven by Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and Donkey Kong. Their race is interrupted by the sudden presence of Kirby on his Warp Star and his interaction with Rosalina and her Luma.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, in the Rainbow Road stage, Shy Guys once again appear racing in Standard Karts, though this time they are the ones used in Mario Kart 7. Shy Guys also appear in the Mario Circuit stage in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U with the same role as the other Mario Kart-inspired tracks, with the Standard models being from Mario Kart 8. Mario's, Bowser's, and Shy Guy's Standard Karts make cameo appearances as trophies.

The Mario Kart Wii version of the kart is the only version that doesn't appear in any Super Smash Bros. game.

Trivia

 * The Toad Kart and Toadette Kart in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! greatly resemble the Standard Kart in its sequel, Mario Kart DS.
 * The Standard Kart from Mario Kart Wii is the only version of this kart that did not appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, as Shy Guys are seen driving the version of the kart from Mario Kart 7 in the 3DS version and the Mario Kart 8 version (which was already seen in the "Comet Observatory" trailer) in the Wii U version, and the Mario Kart DS version of the karts returns from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
 * In Mario Kart 7, the Standard Kart has a similar engine sound as Mario and Luigi's kart in Mario Kart 64.
 * In Paper Mario: Color Splash, Luigi can be seen driving his Standard Kart from Mario Kart 8, with the kart being made of paper and cardboard to match Paper Mario: Color Splash's art style.
 * In the Animal Crossing series, the player can obtain the Standard Kart as a furniture item. In City Folk, it takes its appearance from Mario Kart Wii, while in New Leaf, it takes its appearance from Mario Kart 7.
 * Coincidentally, only one person from each weight group in Mario Kart Wii has a different colored stripe on their Standard Kart. Toadette, from the Light group, has a pink stripe, Diddy Kong, from the Medium group, has a yellow stripe, and Funky Kong, from the Heavy group, has a blue stripe.

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