The Cannonball Run is one of the most famous – and technically illegal – races in America. It is a race against the clock, starting at the Red Ball Garage on Manhattan’s East 31st Street, and ending at the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach in Los Angeles, California. This 2,900-odd mile journey would usually take around 42 hours to complete (according to Google Maps); however, it has been done in as little as 25 hours and 39 minutes by Arne Toman, Doug Tabbutt, and Dunadel Daryoush, driving a modified Audi S6 designed to look like a Ford Police Interceptor and achieving an average speed of 110 mph.
So, since The Cannonball Run is not an official race, due to the law-breaking nature of the event, there are not any particular rules to follow, meaning anyone could take part with any kind of vehicle, although it is generally done with a car which has at least a V8 engine – in the spirit of American racing. Without further ado, here are 10 cars we’d choose to use for a flawless Cannonball Run in 2022.
10 Chevrolet Corvette C8
The Corvette C8 might not be the first choice – or even on the list at all – when doing the Cannonball Run or any such long-distance race, however, the car has a trick up its sleeve. Somehow, the C8 Corvette surpasses the EPA fuel economy rating. One owner drove their car from New York to California and achieved a fuel economy rating of 29 mpg – without employing hypermiling techniques.
These are incredible figures for a naturally aspirated, 495 hp 6.2-liter V8, which can do the 0-62 mph sprint in less than 3 seconds. Whilst the fuel tank may not be the largest (18.5 gallons), a potential Cannonball Runner will spend less time at the pumps and more chasing down the clock.
9 Bentley Flying Spur V8
The Bentley Flying Spur is one of the more expensive cars on this list, but it is supremely comfortable. It has a top speed of 198 mph – which it can do all day long – and an effective fuel range of around 500 miles. The Flying Spur V8 also features cylinder deactivation, resulting in the car running on half the engine to conserve fuel – an excellent feature for driving long distances.
The Flying Spur V8 also offers a lot of room in the back for various pieces of equipment used when doing a Cannonball Run, plus enough space in the trunk for an extra fuel cell. With the speed and comfort that the Bentley Flying Spur V8 offers, you’d want to turn around and do the Run all over again.
8 BMW M5 Competition
The BMW M5 is not a new competitor to the Cannonball Run as Alex Roy and Dave Maher used a 2000 BMW M5 E39 to break the record set by a Ferrari 308. The BMW beat the Ferrari’s time by more than an hour, 25 years after the Ferrari set it.
The M5 Competition – despite having ‘Competition’ in its name – is still a comfortable car, which is able to put many supercars to shame on a racetrack. The M5 Competition has a highway fuel range of about 420 miles, however, this figure could be increased with extra fuel tanks and some more efficient driving techniques. Just be sure to spec the M-Driver’s Package, which increases the top speed to 189 mph, otherwise, the average speed could potentially suffer.
7 Lexus IS 500 F-Performance
The Lexus IS 500 F-Performance is a relatively wild choice for a Cannonball Run, as it does not have the best fuel economy or biggest fuel tank in its class. The upside to the IS 500 is the sound it makes - approximately 2,800 miles of beautiful Japanese V8 burble to entertain the driver.
The IS 500 offers enough space in the trunk for extra equipment and fuel, added to the fact that a Japanese V8 would be an interesting addition to the Cannonball Run’s records.
6 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
-2.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
The Cadillac CT5-V is logically an illogical car to even consider for such an endeavor as it is ridiculously thirsty, and thanks to a fuel tank on the smaller side, the car can only travel 370-odd miles before it needs a top-up.
Setting the logistics of such a trip aside, having the CT5-V Blackwing on a record list would be an awesome achievement, not only for Cadillac and the American motoring world but for the V8 and petrolheads everywhere. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a car that should be celebrated for as long as it exists.
5 Mercedes-AMG E63S
Following the 2019 record-breaking strategy, a modern E63S AMG would be appropriate to break the record. The current E63S has seen much improvement over the model used in 2019, including better fuel economy and a quicker rate of acceleration. Even though the E63S is a large sedan built to embarrass supercars, it is still luxurious and relaxed enough to drive down the Autobahn at well over any legal speed limit in utter comfort.
Since the E63S is based on the E-Class, it is a surprisingly practical car given the performance. It has a large trunk, with ample space in the back for extra tanks and maybe even a third driver. All-in-all, the E63S AMG is an excellent car for any occasion – even blasting across the country illegally to break a time limit.
4 Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid Sport Turismo
The ridiculously long name aside, the Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid Sport Turismo is a practical car to attempt a long-distance race with. The car is fitted with a powerful twin-turbo V8 and a hybrid powertrain, resulting in excellent fuel economy figures – even when traveling at 150 mph down a national highway.
With the car being the Sport Turismo (meaning it is a wagon in Porsche talk), it has some extra cargo space which would usually be taken up by a sloping roof in the case of a normal Panamera. The car has nearly 700 hp from the factory, making it one of the most powerful family cars on sale – a surprising turn of events from the over-engineering Germans.
3 Audi RS6 Avant
The Audi RS6 Avant was another practical decision as it offers satisfactory performance, fuel economy, and cargo space to potentially be a worthy contender of the Cannonball crown. It shares most of its mechanical and electrical components with the Porsche Panamera, sans the hybrid system – alleviating some of the weight.
The current RS6 is also one of the most gorgeous cars on sale, eclipsing anything from both BMW and Mercedes. The RS6 is probably the most practical of all the cars on this list, having the most interior space to stretch out during the more than 24-hour drive.
2 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance
By far the most powerful option on this list is another car with a silly name. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance is a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid producing a monstrous 843 hp and 1082 lb-ft of torque – outlandish performance figures for a factory car.
With all this performance, the GT 63 S E-Performance has a fuel economy rating of 27 mpg – the same as a 2020 Toyota GT86. This car is built to be the best sports sedan on the planet, a feat which it not only accomplishes but bludgeons to death with a hybrid-powered baseball bat.
1 Ford Mustang GT
The final car is a good ol’ Ford Mustang GT – the beating heart of the American auto industry. A man by the name of Fred Ashmore rented a Mustang GT automatic with the intent of beating the Cannonball Run record, took out the unnecessary rear seats, and fitted an extra 130-gallon fuel tank – allowing him to only make one fuel stop during the entire journey.
He completed his run in a record 25 hours and 55 minutes, however, evidence was uncovered about the GPS data being doctored, disqualifying Mr. Ashmore from the official records. The Mustang, therefore, deserves another go at breaking the record, maybe disguised as a German Police Audi RS5.