A driverless race car sets a new autonomous speed record.
A group of Italian researchers established a new record.
A new robot has made history by becoming the fastest in the world. A Maserati MC20 Coupe, with no driver on board, set a new land speed record for autonomous vehicles by reaching 197.7 mph (318 km/h) at an automotive event held at the Kennedy Space Center last week. This Maserati was equipped with autonomous driving software developed by the Politecnico di Milano, the largest scientific and technological university in Italy. Additionally, the team collaborated with the Indy Autonomous Challenge, which was recently held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during CES 2025.
The race took place on a 2.8-mile long runway, where the car broke the previous record of 192.2 mph, which was also held by the Indy Autonomous Challenge and PoliMOVE, set by an IAC AV-21 race car in April 2022.
This achievement is significant not only because an autonomous race car has reached a speed higher than any previous automated driving vehicle, but also because it tests the reliability of the algorithms that support this autonomous driving system, evaluating how they handle extreme speeds. By pushing these limits, the team behind the race hopes to improve safety by applying their findings to autonomous vehicles operating on local roads.
“These world speed records are much more than a showcase of future technology,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of the Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV. “We are pushing AI driving software and robotics hardware to the absolute limit. Doing it with a street car is helping to transition the learning from autonomous racing to enable high-speed, safe, and sustainable autonomous mobility on the roads.”
The Maserati MC20, an elegant and costly choice for this autonomous test, has a starting price of $239,000. This race car features a 3.0-liter V-6 engine, mid-mounted and turbocharged, which Maserati calls Nettuno. The engine produces a considerable 621 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque, delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.