Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Report: Fiat to build Maserati SUV in Turin, Alfa Romeo version possible

Maserati Kubang Concept live at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

Automotive News Europe reports Fiat will build its new Maserati Levante SUV in Turin, Italy. CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed in an interview that the luxury utility will be manufactured at Fiat's flagship plant, and that the Mirafiori facility may build an Alfa Romeo SUV variant as well. Reports as far back as 2011 originally suggested the Italian-branded luxury SUV would be built in Detroit alongside its Jeep Grand Cherokee relative. Marchionne now says Fiat will construct both Maserati and Alfa Romeo vehicles in Turin, but has thus far declined to comment on exactly which models will be manufactured at the plant.

Right now, the factory is only running a few days per month, but Fiat has committed to investing around $1.63 billion to relaunch Maserati, and a fair slice of those funds could go toward revamping the Turin plant. Marchionne also made it clear that the Chrysler dealer network in the US will play a large role in the future success of the Alfa Romeo brand.

Set to bow in 2014 and hit dealers by 2015, the Maserati Levante is expected to take cues from the brand's 2011 Kubang concept shown above. As the Trident's first SUV, the Levante is expected to compete directly with the Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover Range Rover.

Fiat to build Maserati SUV in Turin, Alfa Romeo version possible originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/fiat-to-build-maserati-suv-in-turin-alfa-romeo-version-possible/

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