Maserati Sets Self-Driving Car World Speed Record in AI-Driven MC20
Maserati's MC20 supercar racked up a fair bit of acclaim when it launched back in 2021, but now, it's entered the record books for an unexpected reason: the MC20 has become the world's fastest autonomous vehicle. Piloted solely by artificial intelligence driver software, the car hit a top speed of 197.7 mph — 4.9 mph faster than any self-driving car has ever gone before.
The record-breaking feat was done at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, a.k.a. the LLF, located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At 2.8 miles in length, the LLF has one of the longest runways in the world, which makes it the perfect place to test top speed runs. (Just ask John Hennessey.) Hence why the Indy Autonomous Challenge, or IAC, chose the LLF for the site of this top speed challenge, which was a collaboration with Italian university Politecnico di Milano, Maserati and the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida.
'These world speed records are much more than just a showcase of future technology; we are pushing AI-driver software and robotics hardware to the absolute edge," Paul Mitchell, CEO of IAC, said in a statement. "Doing so with a streetcar is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways."
The Maserati MC20 Coupe is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 621 horsepower. According to the carmaker, the top speed of the car with a human driver on board is 202 mph. The fact that an AI-powered robo-driver got so close to the top speed of the MC20 Coupe is a rather staggering achievement.
A Maserati MC20 Cielo convertible was also on hand, joining in the convoy of cars taking part in the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida rally. This particular example was otablen because it's the same car drove in the 2023 edition of the historical 1000 Miglia race in Italy, where it traveled approximately 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) in autonomous mode.
Autonomous driving on a flat, straight, empty runway is one thing; navigating public roads is something else entirely. Either way, that technology seems to be getting closer to production every single day. That said, the thrill of a Maserati comes from actually driving it, right?
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