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Maserati's new model is for those who like the sportiness of the GranTurismo S, but didn't like the feel of the electrically-actuated gearbox. The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo S automatic adds a six-speed ZF automatic transmission for a smoother driving experience.

Maserati is on a roll. 2008 was the company's best year ever, with a rather impressive 8586 sales worldwide. North America sucked up 2666 of those deliveries, a 1.1% increase compared to 2007. That's pretty extraordinary considering the economic collapse that came about during latter part of 2008. The Quattroporte sedan made up 3383 of the total 2008 worldwide sales, bumping the total number of fifth-generation four-doors sold over the 15,000 mark. To fully appreciate that last number, you have to remember that Maserati only sold 53 of the third-generation 1987-1990 Quattroporte and 825 of the 1998-2002 fourth-generation model.

When it comes to winning marques at the Indianapolis 500, Miller and Marmon come to mind - but Maserati? Sure enough, the Italian sports car manufacturer first won at the Brickyard seventy years ago, and in celebration, it's created the 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S.