Autonomous Maserati MC20 Coupe Hits 318 km/h at Kennedy Space Center, Setting New Speed Record for Driverless Cars

The autonomous Maserati MC20 Coupe has set a speed record for self-driving vehicles, reaching an impressive 318 km/h. This achievement took place during an event held at the Kennedy Space Center.

This vehicle utilized autonomous driving software created by the Milan Polytechnic University. The team also collaborated with the Indy Autonomous Challenge, a racing series for self-driving cars, with the latest stage occurring at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during CES 2025.

The Maserati MC20 Coupe reached its record speed on a 4.5-kilometer runway, surpassing the previous record of 309 km/h set by the Dallara AV-21 racing car in April 2022. This car was also part of both the Indy Autonomous Challenge and PoleMOVE initiatives.

During this latest run, experts conducted stress tests to evaluate the reliability of the algorithms that underpin the autonomous driving system. The team assessed how these algorithms managed extreme speeds, with the data gathered intended to enhance the safety of other autonomous vehicles.

Paul Mitchell, the CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV, stated that the team is pushing the limits of the AI driving software and robotic equipment. He emphasized that by doing this with a sports car, they are helping to transfer racing technologies into the realm of safe, reliable, sustainable, and high-speed mobility on public roads.

The Maserati MC20 is a two-seater sports car priced at $239,000. It boasts a 3-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, known as Nettuno, which delivers 621 horsepower and 730 Nm of torque.