Maserati MC20 Cielo, the first-ever autonomous participant, debuts at 1000 Miglia 2023.
The 1000 MAD project advances Italy’s technical skills and autonomous driving awareness.
In an unprecedented move at the 1000 Miglia Village, the livery of the first car to drive autonomously in the 2023 1000 Miglia route was unveiled. This is part of the 1000 Miglia Autonomous Drive (MAD) project, a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and 1000 Miglia srl, supported by the National Centre for Sustainable Mobility.
The Maserati MC20 Cielo, equipped with “robo-driver” technology, will run the entire race route from June 13-17. The autonomous drive will take place on selected route sections, in line with the Highway Code.
Matteo Marzotto, a veteran of the 1000 Miglia races, will supervise the autonomous drive. He celebrates the 70th anniversary of his uncle Giannino’s 1953 victory at 1000 Miglia. Marzotto will co-drive with the A.I.-driver, a creation of the Politecnico Design Department, unveiled today.
The 1000 MAD aims to augment the Italian industry’s technical skills in sustainable development and heighten public awareness of autonomous driving technology. The project will help formulate procedures promoting the use of autonomous cars and bridge the divide between administrative bodies and major Italian research centres.
However, 1000 Miglia 2023 is just the project’s initial phase. A year of refinement of the A.I.-driver technology will follow, testing the car on varied road types. The ambitious goal is to have the vehicle drive the entire 2024 1000 Miglia route autonomously, marking a milestone in automotive history.
Maserati MC20 Cielo at 1000 Miglia 2023 | Photo: 1000 Miglia
Maserati MC20 Cielo
Maserati’s MC20 Cielo, a unique spyder, revolutionizes driving with its immersive experience and electrically retractable glass roof, courtesy of cutting-edge Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology. Despite its open-top design, the car mirrors the MC20 coupe’s dynamic performance, bold GranTurismo spirit, and robust power-to-weight ratio, with no compromise on storage space or interior roominess.
The Cielo’s body, made entirely of carbon fibre and composite materials, retains the 360° aerodynamics tested extensively in a wind tunnel. Its revolutionary Nettuno engine, a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder twin-turbo, is protected by international patents and features an innovative pre-chamber combustion system with twin spark plugs, a technology derived from Formula 1, marking a significant milestone in Maserati’s “100% Made in Modena” project.
