The Maserati Quattroporte is rare, gorgeous, and exotic. It combines sex-on-wheels Italian looks, a sumptuous interior, a Ferrari-based engine, and balanced, responsive handling. But it has never won our hearts because its sequential-manual "DuoSelect" transmission seems at odds with the car's luxurious character. Hard, palpable shifts are welcome in a Ferrari F430 but less so in a six-figure luxury sedan. For 2007, Maserati offers a conventional six-speed automatic, and it is expected to account for the majority of the 2800 or so Quattroportes sold in the U.S. this year. Although the automatic version adds weight to the front of the car, the overall balance is still 49/51 in favor of the rear and we don't anticipate any meaningful detriment to handling. Maserati says the DuoSelect is popular with its owners and it will remain in the lineup to maintain the brand's sporting cred. Whatever. The automatic promises to address the Quattroporte's biggest weakness, and we can't wait to drive one.