Description
The Daimler Super V8 was the flagship model in the Daimler range during the late 1990s and early 2000s, offering a rare combination of traditional British luxury and modern V8 performance. Based on the Jaguar XJ platform, the Super V8 took the refined character of the Jaguar XJR and added a layer of exclusivity, comfort, and understated elegance that reflected Daimler’s long-standing reputation for craftsmanship and prestige.
Introduced in 1997 alongside the Jaguar X308 series, the Super V8 featured Jaguar’s advanced 4.0-litre AJ-V8 engine. This engine delivered smooth, effortless power and was supercharged, producing around 370 horsepower. The result was a luxury saloon that could accelerate with surprising pace while maintaining the quiet, composed ride expected from a Daimler. A five-speed automatic transmission came standard, offering seamless gear changes and enhancing the car’s relaxed yet responsive nature.
From the outside, the Daimler Super V8 was distinguished by its classic fluted Daimler grille, subtle chrome detailing, and discreet badging. It shared its body with the long-wheelbase Jaguar XJR, giving it a commanding presence and added rear cabin space. Despite its performance credentials, the design was elegant rather than aggressive, aimed at buyers who preferred sophistication over flash.
Inside, the Super V8 was fitted with the finest materials available in a Jaguar Group product at the time. The cabin was trimmed with soft Connolly leather, polished burr walnut, and deep Wilton carpeting. Rear passengers were especially well catered for, with heated and powered seats, picnic tables, individual climate control, and ample legroom thanks to the extended wheelbase. Every element was designed to create a serene and comfortable environment, whether the car was being driven or chauffeured.
The Daimler Super V8 was, in essence, a blend of the Jaguar XJR’s performance and agility with the luxury appointments of a high-end limousine. This made it particularly appealing to executives, diplomats, and customers who wanted discreet performance paired with timeless British luxury.
Production of the Daimler Super V8 continued until 2002, when Jaguar introduced the all-aluminium X350 platform. Daimler would eventually return under the new platform as the Super Eight, but the Super V8 remains significant as one of the last truly handcrafted Daimlers, offering supercharged V8 power in a classically styled and exquisitely finished package.
Today, the Daimler Super V8 is considered a modern classic. It stands as a reminder of the era when Daimler embodied the highest tier of British motoring—combining performance, luxury, and tradition in a uniquely dignified form.