1999 Daimler Super 8 'Supercharged' Saloon

Description

The Daimler name has a proud tradition in English motoring history, having begun production back in 1896. Under the control of Jaguar, Daimler's distinctive fluted grille became synonymous with the ultimate in luxury, being reserved for the largest and most expensive limousines in the model range. Launched in 1997 as a replacement for the X300 model range, the new X308 series of Jaguars and Daimlers continued to ?combine opulent luxury with effortless performance? in the words of Jaguar World magazine, dispensing with the six-cylinder motor in favour of a new generation of 3.2-litre and 4-litre V8s. Designed by Geoff Lawson, the X308's attractive styling was a logical development of its predecessor and instantly recognisable as a product from Coventry. The ultimate variants were the Jaguar XJR and Daimler Super V8, both featuring a supercharger under the curvaceous bonnet to raise output from the 3996cc V8 to a prodigious 276kW at 6150rpm and an equally impressive 525Nm of torque at 3600rpm. The supercharged V8s were uniquely equipped with a Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic automatic transmission capable of handling the additional power. This delivered performance that was nothing short of sensational, with 0-60 mph dispatched in 5.3 seconds on the way to a governed top speed of 155mph. Of course the Daimler Super V8 boasted every conceivable luxury feature, including a revised ?touring? version of Jaguar's advanced Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) adaptive suspension system. With a list price of $215,500 in Australia in 1999, the Daimler Super V8 was clearly aimed at an elite market and consequently only a few were ever sold here. According to production figures just 2,463 were made in total, almost all of them on the longer-wheelbase platform.