The Steel Driver (スティールダイバー Sutīru Daibā) is an unlockable kart in Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Mario Kart Tour.
Description[]
It is a submarine-like vehicle with a dark blue top and red underside. The name is based of the game, Steel Diver. Coincidentally, the Japanese and Italian names translate to Steel Diver.
In Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]

The Steel Driver in-game
In Mario Kart 8, to unlock the Steel Driver, the player needs to collect a certain amount of Coins. The amount needed is always randomized. However, it is available from the start in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
It boosts weight and traction, but lowers acceleration and handling, sharing the same stats as the Badwagon, the Tri-Speeder, the Standard ATV, and the GLA.
In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, A CPU-contolled Iggy Koopa, Koopa Troopa and Dry Bones would sometimes use this body paired with Metal tires.
Stat Name | Stat Value |
---|---|
Speed | 0 |
Acceleration | -0.5 |
Weight | +0.5 |
Handling | -0.5 |
Traction | +0.5 |
In Mario Kart Tour[]

Penguin Luigi driving along with his Steel Driver at 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon R. No death stare here, just actual, happy racing...
Introduced to the Mario vs. Luigi Tour in 2020, the Steel Driver is classified as a High-End kart (when has a new kart ever not been classified as High-End?) Regardless, when using the Steel Driver, it increases the duration of Slipstream boosts and the points earned for performing them.
Interestingly enough, you'd think that the Steel Driver would be paired with the Metal tires, but in actuality, it uses the Pirate Sushi Racer's tires, which are identical to the Metal tires, just with a blue rim.