MASERATI has completely re-engineered its fourth-generation Quattroporte sports sedan to take a fully automatic hydraulic gearbox for the first time. Released in Australia from $269,000 – the same price as with the six-speed DuoSelect sequential-shift transmission – the new six-speed fully automatic Quattroporte is better-equipped to fight against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S500, BMW 750i and Audi A8. It costs the car a little in terms of performance, but more than compensates with smooth changes that more effectively complement the comfortable luxury four-door sedan.