This driveless car just drove itself to a record-setting 318km/h
What's the story
Italian supercar Maserati MC20 has set a new world record for the fastest autonomous car. The vehicle reached a mind-boggling speed of 318km/h during an event at Florida's Kennedy Space Center last week. This beats the previous record of 309km/h set by an Indy Autonomous Challenge-built race car back in April 2022. The record-breaking performance of the Maserati MC20 was enabled by a self-driving software created by Politecnico di Milano, Italy's largest scientific-technological university.
Technology
Learnings will be applied to future autonomous cars
This record isn't just about speed; it's a crucial test of autonomous 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, 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."
Specifications
Maserati MC20: A blend of power and luxury
The Maserati MC20 isn't just about speed; it's also a symbol of luxury. Starting at a minimum of $239,000, this race car comes with a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, dubbed the Nettuno. The powerful engine produces an impressive 621hp and 728Nm of torque which is delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.