T-180 is the designation of the World Racing League single-seater stock racers.
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Very similar to Formula 1 race cars at first glance, T-180s are capable of speeds up to 400 MPH. They are also equipped with auto-jacks for jumping, or simply changing tires out quickly at the pit stop. All four wheels on a T-180 are capable of rotating independently at 180 degrees (hence the "180" in the name), allowing them to spin without total loss of control and perform very skilled drifts. The only reason why the Mach 5 cannot run in T-180 races is because of its conventional wheelbase and axle.
T-180s mostly use their engines to steer, while the wheels are used to face the car in the right direction, as well as braking and accelerating with the normal car engine for smaller adjustments. It is likely that T-180-style wheels were created to make drifting easier, safer, and more effective after Rex drifted the Mach 4, using its engine to take turns at higher speeds.
T-180s feature five pedals within the cockpit as two are for the acceleration and brakes. Then one is for the thrusters and one for the clutch. Then there is a fifth pedal that is meant for unlocking the back wheels. The wheels are free moving like computer chair wheels, the front steering can control the back wheels if mastered. Speed Racer’s Mach 6 featured the five pedals during some of his action scenes within the movie. During some of the racing scenes, you may catch a glimpse of how many pedals are inside the cockpit.
T-180s feature a “Dragster” power unit within the car that doesn’t waste time distributing full power to all four wheels. Meaning the system is at full raw power at all times during the race. The horsepower within a T-180 is rated between 3,500 to 4,000. As the car can reach speeds up to 500 miles per hour if given a long enough straight.
T-180s are built to withstand corkscrews and loops along with some inverted turns along with harsh climates. An example is in the sequence where the Racer family is being toured in Royalton: you can see and hear Royalton speak about how their drivers are trained to drive in extremely harsh conditions. Meaning the WRL has T-180 tracks in places where the weather can be dangerous. The levels of G Force on the body would be excruciating from the immense speed along with sudden tight corners of a race track.
The shifter is similar to that of a “Sequential” and a “Power Glide”. The use of the clutch is to shift the vehicle up a gear or down a gear. The car can also be JUMPSTARTED into the highest gear if given enough power to the starter through the “Coverginator”. Speed was able to jumpstart his car and go through the track at FULL power after the crash with Cannonball.
