Maserati is entering the autonomous driving arena with an innovative MC20, set to make its debut at CES 2025.

This ambitious undertaking is a collaboration among Maserati, Politecnico di Milano—Italy’s premier institution for science and technology—and the National Center for Sustainable Mobility (MOST). Their initiative involves outfitting an MC20 Cielo with cutting-edge AI-driven autonomous technology, aimed at advancing the practicality of self-driving vehicles.

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Maserati’s Previous AI Endeavors

Maserati’s foray into autonomous driving isn’t entirely new. A previous iteration of the MC20—a coupe model—successfully showcased its capabilities during the 2023 and 2024 Mille Miglia, completing segments of the legendary route in fully autonomous mode. Although co-driver Matteo Marzotto was present to satisfy event requirements, he refrained from intervening while the AI took command.

In November 2024, the autonomous MC20 Coupe underwent a high-speed test at Piacenza-San Damiano airport, where it reached a remarkable top speed of 285 km/h (177.09 mph) even amid dense fog and low visibility, all without a human pilot on board.

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“The goal is to evaluate the responsiveness of the autonomous driver in extreme conditions,” explained Sergio Matteo Savaresi, the project’s scientific leader and Director of the Department of Electronics, Computer Science, and Bioengineering at Politecnico di Milano. “This testing allows us to push technological boundaries to enhance the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles.”

MC20 Coupe at the Indy Autonomous Challenge

The same MC20 Coupe will serve as the Safety Car at the upcoming Indy Autonomous Challenge, taking place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 9th. This event features a competitive race between autonomous vehicles designed by ten university teams, showcasing the rapid evolution of AI within high-speed motorsports.

Attendees eager to experience the upgraded autonomous Maserati MC20 Cielo can visit the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and ANFIA booth at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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Conclusion

It’s invigorating to see advancements in autonomous vehicle technology coming from sources beyond Tesla. Healthy competition fosters innovation, motivating manufacturers to enhance their offerings in an effort to outshine rivals.

With GM stepping back, Tesla’s primary competitor in the autonomous arena seems to be Alphabet’s Waymo. If Maserati were to venture into the development of autonomous taxis, I’d eagerly welcome a ride in an MC20 on my morning commute.

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Source:www.autoblog.com