Obviously, a sedan is a four-door automobile with a trunk in the back; we'd say it's fair to expect any good sedan should also drive confidently, be reasonably comfortable, and tastefully styled. So, along those lines, a very good sedan would be something like an Audi A6 — very good to drive, very comfortable, and very nice to look at. You might be thinking then, a super sedan is something like the fire-breathing Audi RS6, a machine that takes all the premium facets and simply adds more. That's part of it, but a true super sedan also needs exclusivity and that most intangible quality: character. With that in mind, here's our list of the top ten coolest super sedans ever.

10.) Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas (Series 1)
It may look like a Jag, but that's because it essentially is an upmarket version of the Series 1 Jaguar XJ. So why not just get the Jag? Remember, these were cars produced by British-Leyland in the '70s, so basically you were paying the Daimler premium not just for the badge, but for someone to actually pay attention when they were bolting the thing together. With that you got better wood, leather, and exclusivity as well. 885 Double Six models equipped with the monstrous Jaguar 5.3-liter V12 were made, with just 351 of those being the long-wheelbase top-of-the-line Vanden Plas models. Grace, pace, space, and then some. [source, image]

9.) Maserati Quattroporte IV Evoluzione
Since its first incarnation in the '60s, the Maserati Quattroporte has been the definitive super sedan. We think these fourth generation models were the coolest. Made during an era when Maserati was content purely as niche brand, it was arguably the most exotic Quattroporte, with styling by the same guy that penned the Lamborghini Countach. The last run of cars, known as the Evoluzione, benefited from a long list of minor improvements brought on by the brand's new owners: Ferrari. The twin-turbo 3.2-liter V8 was good for 336 HP. Perhaps not as beautiful as the first or most recent generations, the Quattroporte IV was crisp, clean, and handsome. [source]

8.) BMW 745i (E23)
The first thing to know about the E23 BMW 745i is which 745i is being talked about. The 745i that most of the world knows is powered by a turbocharged version of the commonplace M30 inline-six mated to a slushbox. Early models had 3.2-liter engines fed by 10 PSI of boost, later models with 3.4-liter mills but just 6 PSI from the turbo. That's all well and good, but down in booming '80s South Africa, the turbo setup simply wouldn't fit under the hood of right-hand-drive models. So, some touring car racers decided to just take a 7-Series and drop in the M88 inline-six from the BMW M1 supercar, good for 286 HP. Now referred to by some as the M745i, these cars were the closest the world has ever come to having a true BMW M7. The idea caught on, but of about 209 examples built, only a precious 17 or so came with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Tick the right boxes and you could even have power reclining rear seats covered in water buffalo hide. [source]

7.) DeTomaso Deauville
Italian style with American grunt was what defined DeTomaso, but not everyone knows the supercar builder also had a super sedan. Using the same 5.7-liter Ford V8 found in the Pantera, the Deauville is said to have had as much as 330 HP on tap. Sure it was equipped with a humble 3-speed slushbox, but don't think that meant it wasn't fast. For instance, Alejandro De Tomaso arrived in a Deauville at the car's press release at the DeTomaso factory stating that he had left Rome just two hours before, meaning he had averaged about 155 MPH...though that may have been a bit of hyperbole considering the standard car topped out at about 143 MPH. Either way, with just 244 examples built, the Deauville was seriously exclusive, and unmistakably cool. [source]

6.) Iso Rivolta Fidia
Say you wanted the Italian-American character of a DeTomaso, but with Chevy power and a bit more flair? Look no further than the Iso Rivolta Fidia. Designed by one Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was still working for Ghia, the Fidia perforates its sharp, slab-sided body with elegant vents along the C-pillar and behind the front fenders. It's the sort of sedan that would look perfect parked in a two-car garage next to a Ferrari Daytona. Equipped with a 350 HP 5.3-liter V8 sending power through a 4-speed manual gearbox, it might even be able to keep up with the prancing horse. But was it cool? Well, John Lennon thought enough of the Iso to buy one. [source, image]

5.) Bentley Turbo RT
Inevitably, any list of super sedans will include a Bentley, but why this one? While it's hard to distinguish one of Crewe's cruisers from another, the RT is set apart from the standard Bentley Turbo R by details like the sport wheels and radiator mesh grille. But if that isn't enough to make you take notice, the 400 HP erupting from the 6.75-liter turbocharged V8 should be. Still not impressed? How about 590 lb-ft of torque available at just 2000 RPM. Admittedly, there have been more powerful Bentleys since the Turbo RT, but this was the last super sedan sold before Volkswagen took ownership of Bentley in 1998. Just 50 were made. [source]

4.) Lagonda Rapide
No, not that Lagonda; not that Rapide either. This here is the original. Based on the Aston Martin DB4, the Lagonda Rapide pioneered the 4.0-liter inline-six engine that would later be used in the DB5, as well as a rear-axle design that didn't again see production until the DBS of the late '60s. The 236 HP may not seem like much today, but with a top speed of 130 MPH, it was plenty. From 1961 to '64 only 55 Rapides were made. [source, image]

3.) Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9
We've already gone on at length as to why we love the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, back when we parked it in the Jalopnik Fantasy Garage. But how can't you be in awe of the mighty 6.9? It wasn't a simple muscle car with 286 HP and 405 lb-ft of torque from the big V8, it was a sophisticated showcase and perhaps the best all-around car of its time, with a Rolls-Royce price tag to match. [image]

2.) Monteverdi 375/4
A Swiss super sedan with Mopar power, the Monteverdi is pure coolness. The standard 7.2-liter V8 engine was no slouch, but the High Speed was what you really wanted. Indeed, this thing had a HEMI, 426 cubes worth, and the 7.0-liter V8 was good for essentially as much power as you wanted to tune it to make — production 375/4s were in the neighborhood of 450 HP. Combine that with a tube-frame chassis, a TV in the back seat and devastatingly sinister styling, and it's hard to imagine anything we'd rather own. [source, image]

1.) Ferrari 456 Venice
Of course, the top spot goes to none other than a creation commissioned for the Sultan of Brunei's massive collection. Pininfarina made many cars for the Sultan over the years, but the handful of Ferrari 456 sedans were perhaps the most elegant. Powered by the same 5.5-liter V12 as the standard coupes, they had 436 HP. If a super sedan is the perfect blend of sedan and supercar, the 456 Venice was the definitive example.

Here's a perfect example of the type of asks the Sultan would make to automakers. The V8 Vantage of the '90s was an awesome piece of brutish British muscle. In our mind, the only way to make it more badass was to add more doors, and it would appear the Sultan was of the same mindset as the Brunei royals ordered Aston Martin to convert some Virages to Lagonda-badged sedans and wagons. Some were even converted to Vantage technical specification.

Done in-house by Aston Martin Works, the Aston Martin Special Series 1 was styled to look like the classic DB4 Zagato. But while the old DB4 had to make do with an inline-six, the Series 1 rode on a V8 Vantage platform complete with twin-supercharged V8 power. Because when you've got the money to make it happen, you make it happen.

Where the Series 1 was pure retro, the Series 2 was the culmination of contemporary. Striking a nice balance between elegant and aggressive, the Special Series 2 was also believed to be based on the V8 Vantage. Sounds like a nice way to counter-balance the design of the Series 1. Or at least the Sultan seemed to think so.

The AM3 was the most non-traditional design of all the custom Astons. Perhaps this was because it was bodied by Pininfarina in Italy. The lights were given a smoked treatment to blend in with the black plastic front fascia. And like all great contemporary designs, it still looks modern today.

Although the AM4 was much more conservative than the AM3, it too was designed by the denizens of the clay workshops of Pininfarina. Also on the V8 Vantage chassis, we think it looks something like a big DB7.

Before the Porsche Cayenne or Cadillac Escalade, if you wanted an SUV with a stuck-up sense of over-built purpose, there was only the Range Rover. Unless you were the Sultan, in which case you'd commission Bentley to construct a batch of SUVs with a unique Bentley chassis and Range Rover 4WD systems. At least they didn't ride on 24" spinners.

Originally the Java was a concept to show what a Bentley based on a BMW 5-series might look like. Apparently the Brunei royals liked it enough they had Bentley build a convertible version of the show car. The gleefully exorbitant brand-bastard madness didn't stop with the drop-top, as it appears he had some wagons built as well. Though from what we understand they didn't actually use a BMW for these functioning examples of concept gone crazy.

We told you this guy loved wagons — and an extended-end Bentley is certainly an expensive way to show that love. While we're not too keen on the I'm-Lovin'-It McDonald's themed interior on the jaundice-colored Bentley, we adore the styling on the silver one. What's better, if you believe the badges, these were equipped with four-wheel-drive. Think of it as a Volvo wagon — except symbolizing the opposite of every ideal of the Swedish brand.

Back when all Bentleys were styled starting with Lego models, the Rapier was designed to be a modern and forward-thinking interpretation of the brand. The flowing lines are still more sleek that the current lineup from Crewe. Although now, the front view might cause people to initially confuse it for a Jaguar XF.

The BMW 850CSi was the best you could get from Bavaria, but that wasn't good enough for the Sultan. This version of the big coupe is tuned by Alpina and called the B12. In addition to those fancy stripes and vents, the car had a V12 pumping out about 350 HP.

Yes, that's right, with a 16-cylinder engine made from two V8s stuck together, the Cizeta-Moroder V16T was one of the most ambitious hypercar projects ever attempted. The engine was mounted in a Fiero-like sideways fashion, instead of the longitudinal way you'd expect in a Lamborghini. Even the headlights were over-the-top, it had two flip-up lamps on each side.

Known as the Dauer 962 Le Mans, it's an extremely limited edition street-version of Porsche's dominant 962 race car. It's also said up to five of these once lived in the Brunei royal garage, but we're told this yellow example was apparently the favorite. At one time, they were arguably the fastest road cars in the world. That is, if you actually consider them "road cars."

The Ferrari 456 is arguably the most elegant car to come from Maranello in recent years. That being said — why stop with mere elegance when you're a Sultan. No, a Sultan demands indulgence. Which we're assuming is why he built himself a four-door sedan and wagon version of the Italian stallion. With a wave of his hand, he commissioned design-shop Pininfarina to build some super-sized versions. We're even told the Sultan reportedly had them set up shop on the royal grounds, just for this sort of special project. Must have been why they tossed in that sexy drop-top 456 Spider at no extra cost.

The Ferrari F40 only came in red, right? Not if you're the Sultan. It's ironic to see the most exciting car of its day in the most drab color imaginable, but we think it's awesome.

Obviously, this wasn't the only McLaren in the garage, but where else are you gonna find one in yellow? And we all know what yellow is good for. We can see it now — the Sultan cruising — one chick magnetically sealed to each side due to the raw yellow magnetism of the McLaren. Yeah, or else he had so many credit cards in his pockets, the stripes on the back actually became magnetized. Whatever the reason, we're assuming the man doesn't need a yellow McLaren. But we're also assuming that wasn't his reasoning behind the color either.

Essentially a re-bodied SL, the Argento Vivo design was originally a Honda concept car by the same name. But what sets a Honda concept apart from a Mercedes is all about what's under the hood. In this case, an AMG 7.3-liter V12, the same engine used in the Pagani Zonda.

Yet another awesome wagon, the special S-class Touring model was designed just for the Sultan. Of course, it never hurts to have some extra power to drag around all that extra cargo room, so AMG installed another one of their 7.3-liter V12s under that pretty hood.

No, that's not just a sheet-metal restoration. It's been restored by HWA, the people that made the CLK-GTR, and was given modern underpinnings from a (then) new S-class. Style of the old, power of the new. We like that combination.

The Sultan didn't just use HWA for the 600 above. Like many tuning houses, the Sultan of cars had them take a swing at a few four-wheeled wonders. Like the Mercedes above. Sure, it looks just like a normal 300 SL, but it's got a modern drivetrain. That gives it plenty of "go" to match the gullwing "show."

Ok, so this wasn't actually called "The Panty Dropper" or "The Shaggin Wagon" but it might as well have been. Why else would you have a yellow Mercedes Sprinter with a red interior? We're wondering if those seats fold down conversion van-style. What happens in Brunei, stays in Brunei, right?

What could be better than the Rambo-Lambo? How about a wagon version? Just looking at this thing pumps enough testosterone into our system to make us want to go on a Lion-hunting expedition. In the middle of a war zone.

Think Jaguar's XJ220 is just too ugly? Of course not. So why would you have one re-styled by Pininfarina? Because you can, and because the end result looks absolutely fantastic.

Nowadays, it's common to see stretched Escalades and Navaigators, but this Range Rover was stretched long before big SUVs were played out. We wonder how it'd do off-road? Our bet is we'd find out right about the first time we tried to scale a rock taller than a foot.

Styled by Bertone, this one-off Roller dubbed the Majestic is distinct enough to be noticed by those in the know, but subtle enough to be overlooked by most everyone else. Much less vulgar than say, a current Phantom.

What collection would be complete without a basic stretched Rolls-Royce? We're sure the Sultan had plenty of limos like these, but something about this Roller just gives it the quintessential "rich guy" flavor.

Photo Credit: Supercars.net
[Information gathered from a variety of sources including but not limited to: AstonMartins.com, bentleyspotting.com, benzworld.org, classicdriver.com]

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