Maserati MC20 Breaks Autonomous Speed Record at Kennedy Space Center
Reaching speeds of just over 197 mph.
The Maserati MC20 has made history, setting a new autonomous world speed record at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Driven solely by artificial intelligence, the modified MC20 Coupe reached 197 mph at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), surpassing the previous record of 192 mph set in 2022.
The record-breaking run was a collaboration between the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), Politecnico di Milano and Maserati, as part of the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida. The LLF, a 15,000-foot (2.8-mile) runway known for NASA’s Space Shuttle landings, served as the ultimate testing ground for high-speed autonomous driving.
Notably, the AI driver was developed by PoliMOVE-MSU, a team from Politecnico di Milano’s Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous (AIDA) division. The project is a major step in transferring autonomous racing technology to streetcars, demonstrating how AI can handle extreme speeds with precision and stability.
“This achievement is about more than just speed — it’s about pushing AI-driven software and robotics hardware to their absolute limits,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of the Indy Autonomous Challenge. “By doing so with a streetcar, we’re helping advance high-speed autonomous mobility for the real world.”
