At the 1000 Miglia Experience in Florida recently, the Politecnico di Milano team, in collaboration with Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and Maserati, set a new world speed record for an autonomous car.
Their AI-driven Maserati MC20 Coupé reached 197.7 mph (318 km/h) at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility (LLF). This seems a fitting location as it was a NASA site that saw many space shuttle landings.
The previous record was 192.8 mph and was set by the same team in 2022 with an IAC AV-21 racecar.
The AI Behind the Record
The AI driving system was developed by PoliMOVE-MSU, a high-performance division of AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous) at Politecnico di Milano. This software allowed the Maserati MC20 to navigate and accelerate at extreme speeds without human intervention.
The Maserati MC20 Coupé had already set the benchmark as the fastest autonomous production car in November 2024, reaching 177 mph (285 km/h) at Piacenza Military Airport in Italy. With this new record, it has raised the bar one more time.
“These world speed records are much more than just a showcase of future technology; 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”
– Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV
The Future of AI Mobility
Conducting high-speed tests in controlled environments like the Kennedy Space Centre allows researchers to evaluate AI-driven systems under extreme conditions. The AIDA team is using this data to enhance the safety, responsiveness, and real-world applications of autonomous vehicles.
“The goal of high-speed tests is to evaluate the behavior of robo-drivers in extreme conditions. These AI systems have been tested in production vehicles at legal road speeds in the Indy Autonomous Challenge races since 2021. The AIDA team used this test to push the boundaries of autonomous driving, improving safety and reliability. Conducted in controlled environments without a human driver, the test assesses the AI’s stability, robustness, and reaction time, ultimately enhancing safety for low-speed urban mobility situations”
– Prof. Sergio Matteo Savaresi, Scientific Director of the project and Director of the Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering at the Politecnico di Milano
The 1000 Miglia
Following the record-breaking test, a second Maserati MC20 Cielo joined the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida. This vehicle had already made history in the 2023 1000 Miglia when it drove 37 miles (60 km) in autonomous mode across Italy.
“The 1000 Miglia has never been just a race; it is a journey through history, a symbol of innovation, and a tribute to Italian automotive excellence. The synergy between the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida and the groundbreaking autonomous driving technologies developed by the Politecnico di Milano represents an extraordinary step forward in the future of mobility. Seeing a Maserati MC20—an icon of Italian design and performance—pushing the limits with artificial intelligence is proof that tradition and future can coexist. This first edition in Florida marks the beginning of a new chapter for the 1000 Miglia, bridging the gap between heritage and the frontiers of innovation.”
Massimo Cicatiello, President of EGA USA, the organizer of 1000 Miglia Experience Florida
Does this take us one step closer to autonomous driving and racing becoming the norm?
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