Kart

Not to be confused with Car.

Artwork of Mario driving his Standard Kart in Mario Kart World

Karts are featured as the main vehicles in the Mario Kart series. They can come in various sizes and colors, corresponding to the size and color of each character. Early Mario Kart games only have one kart, the Go-Kart. Later games include multiple kinds of karts, and allow the player to choose which one to use. Each kart has a distinct appearance and stats such as speed, acceleration and handling. Usually, the kart that is closest to average in terms of stats in each game is defined as the Standard Kart. In such games, the Go-Kart from the older games is recontextualized as the Pipe Frame and given distinct stats. Also, while not initially part of karts, later games have each kart include one or more spaces to display the driver's emblem.

Karts have also appeared in other game series and media such as in the Super Smash Bros. series, comics, and toys.

History[edit]

Mario Kart series[edit]

Super Mario Kart[edit]

In Super Mario Kart, Go-Karts are the only kart in the game. The term "kart" also applies to the extra lives a driver has in Grand Prix mode. In the mode, all drivers start out with three karts, and one kart is lost when a driver comes in 5th place or lower or by retrying a race. When all karts are lost, the player is forced to exit to the title screen. It is possible to regain one more kart in the Grand Prix by placing the same position three times in a row.

Mario's Go-Kart
Luigi's Go-Kart
Princess's Go-Kart
Yoshi's Go-Kart
Bowser's Go-Kart
Donkey Kong Jr.'s Go-Kart
Koopa Troopa's Go-Kart
Toad's Go-Kart

Mario Kart 64[edit]

Go-Karts return in Mario Kart 64, with slight design changes and new sounds. Depending on the characters that use them, karts pertain to one of three weight classes: light, medium, and heavy. Lights are karts that show a high speed but a fairly low endurance. Medium karts show all-around traits, whereas Heavy karts have high endurance but poor speed.

Mario's Go-Kart
Mario's Go-Kart
Mario's Go-Kart
Luigi's Go-Kart
Luigi's Go-Kart
Peach's Go-Kart
Peach's Go-Kart
Toad's Go-Kart
Toad's Go-Kart
Yoshi's Go-Kart
Yoshi's Go-Kart
Donkey Kong's Go-Kart
Donkey Kong's Go-Kart
Bowser's Go-Kart
Bowser's Go-Kart
Wario's Go-Kart
Wario's Go-Kart

Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]

Go-Karts reappear in Mario Kart: Super Circuit with the same traits as in Mario Kart 64. The player can press to sound the horn on the kart during a race in the game.

Mario's Go-Kart
Luigi's Go-Kart
Peach's Go-Kart
Toad's Go-Kart
Yoshi's Go-Kart
Donkey Kong's Go-Kart
Wario's Go-Kart
Bowser's Go-Kart

Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]

In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, there are new karts with new appearances and styles. Most of them reflect a character's special characteristics, such as Mario's Red Fire, which is a red and blue-colored all-terrain vehicle, rendering Mario's letter M emblem on its body and wheels. In this game, the karts have a seat on the front where a character drives the kart and a platform in the rear of the vehicle where the second character is able to use an item, taken from the Item Boxes. Similarly to previous games, the karts are split in the Light, Medium, and Heavy weight groups, though drivers can only use karts that fit their own weight. The Parade Kart breaks this rule, being usable for any character. The player can press the item button (/) (without the rear character holding an item) to sound the horn, and the rear player makes a small pose.

Every kart has its own stats, which are qualified by the amount of stars on its acceleration, speed, and weight. In general however, lightweight karts have a high acceleration, but a fair low speed and endurance. Medium-weight karts have balanced stats, whereas heavyweight karts show a high top speed and endurance, and low acceleration. There are twenty-one karts in the game.

Lightweight[edit]

Medium weight[edit]

Heavyweight[edit]

Any weight[edit]

Parade Kart

Mario Kart Arcade GP[edit]

In Mario Kart Arcade GP, all the characters use a kart with rounded details and a solid build as opposed to other previous Mario Kart games.

Mario Kart DS[edit]

In Mario Kart DS, Standard Karts replace Go-Karts in the game. These karts are redesigned, having white bumpers and a frame of different color palettes that matches the character's custom color. The emblem of the character is shown over the hood, although the player can replace it with their own in the emblem maker option. Additionally, every character can select at least one of three vehicles (excluding Shy Guy, having only his Standard SG), exclusive for being rather different in design and stats than the character's Standard Kart. While a Standard Kart has plain stats, the other vehicles can have a high speed, acceleration or items ratio, depending on what the vehicle is made for. Every Kart is qualified by six ratings:

Acceleration: The time for achieving the top speed. Lightweight karts like Yoshi's Standard YS have the highest acceleration rating.
Speed: The top speed level when a kart moves forward. Most of the karts within the heavyweight class show the highest speed rating.
Weight: The kart's endurance. When a kart has a higher weight, it is capable of knocking lighter karts further.
Drifting: The friction power of the kart when turns by powersliding. A high drifting rate makes the kart turn tighter.
Handling: The control over the vehicle in all type of terrains. The strength of the Mini-Turbo boost caused by drifting also depends on how high the kart's handling is.
Items: The variety of items to obtain in an Item Box. As the kart's item stat is high, the character can receive rarer items more commonly. The smaller the kart's wheels, the lower the meter is for the Items stat.