Unlicensed Vic driver clocks up to 180km/h

An unlicensed driver accused of speeding up to 180km/h as she tried to evade police with three passengers in her car was finally apprehended when the engine blew up in Melbourne's southeast.

The Hampton Park woman, 31, was allegedly driving an unregistered car without number plates when she was busted in Langwarrin on Friday, but sped up to avoid being intercepted, police said.

The car's engine conked out in Baxter, and police say they found an axe under the driver's seat and a knife in her handbag, before charging her with 17 offences.