Why would anyone want a self-driving supercar? Italian luxury carmaker Maserati has an answer: combine cutting-edge artificial intelligence with thrilling speed.
This need for speed is the idea behind the new Maserati MC20 supercar showcased at CES 2025.
A supercar is a high-performance sports car designed for exceptional speed, cutting-edge technology, and luxury. It is often built for extreme performance and features powerful engines like V8s or V12s, advanced aerodynamics, and the ability to exceed 200 mph while going from 0 to 60 in under three seconds.
Examples of Supercars include the Ferrari 488, Bugatti Chiron, and Lamborghini Huracán.
Unlike Tesla’s Cybercab or Waymo, which are primarily designed for navigating cities and urban traffic safely, autonomous supercars combine this functionality with a focus on high-speed performance.
“Driving often feels like a chore. With traffic and delays, the morning commute becomes a common source of frustration,” North Carolina-based luxury car dealer Koenigsegg Charlotte wrote in a blog post. “However, with a supercar, driving becomes fun again.”
The dealer noted that the increased capabilities of an exotic vehicle like a supercar bring a feeling of total control.
“Furthermore, taking your supercar for a spin is an easy way to boost your spirits and make any day better,” they said. Supercars’ bold designs, limited production, and luxurious interiors make them expensive status symbols.
Maserati released the first iteration of the MC20 in September 2020. The MC in MC20 stands for Maserati Corse 2020. The MC20 leverages AI technology developed in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s top technical university.
During CES, the AI-powered Maserati MC20 Coupé took center stage as the safety vehicle at the Indy Autonomous Challenge at the Las Vegas Speedway. In this event, university teams compete by racing self-driving cars at high speeds.
The MC20’s self-driving capabilities are thanks to the Politecnico di Milano’s Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous (AIDA) project, which focuses on developing autonomous vehicles for public roads.
“The faster you go, the more efficient the algorithm needs to be, and it must never make mistakes,” Politecnico di Milano Professor Sergio Matteo Savaresi told technology outlet IOT World Today. “Therefore it is important to test its performance under extreme conditions such as at high speeds.”
CES marks the second high-profile event in recent weeks where the AI-powered supercar has garnered significant attention, following its record-breaking 177 mph run without a human driver in November.
The debut of the Maserati MC20 at CES underscores a growing trend in the supercar market. According to data from market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the market is currently worth around $19.4 billion. As demand increases, that number is expected to rise 24.23% to $24.1 billion by 2030.
“The market faces challenges such as the exorbitant price of supercars, economic uncertainties, and stricter emission regulations worldwide,” Mordor Intelligence wrote. “Despite this, the market presents growth opportunities in the form of growing electrification of supercars, with new and existing players investing heavily in this market.”
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
