A Maserati MC20 Coupe equipped with autonomous driving technology set a new land speed record for self-driving vehicles, reaching 197.7 mph (318 km/h) during an event at the Kennedy Space Center last week.
The vehicle operated without a driver using self-driving software developed by Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s largest scientific and technological university. The project was conducted in collaboration with the Indy Autonomous Challenge, a competition focused on advancing autonomous racing technology.
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The record-breaking run surpassed the previous autonomous vehicle speed record of 192.2 mph, set in April 2022 by an IAC AV-21 race car developed by the same research team. The high-speed test, conducted on the center’s 2.8-mile runway, aimed to evaluate the reliability of autonomous driving algorithms under extreme conditions.
“These world speed records are much more than just a showcase of future technology,” Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV, said in a statement. “We are pushing AI-driver software and robotics hardware to the absolute edge. Doing so with a streetcar is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.”
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The Maserati MC20, typically retailing for at least $239,000, is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine producing 621 horsepower. The high-performance sports car served as the platform for the autonomous test, demonstrating the potential for self-driving technology beyond traditional research vehicles.
