Turin, Italy – Two Italian stallions loaded with horsepower are gearing up to join the global SUV game – long after their competitors already have. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s five-year plan for its Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands envisions big moves into the luxury space dominated by their German rivals. It’s a critical move for the Italian-American automaker as its global competitors chase rising prices and rising demand for SUVs of all sizes, often at the expense of traditional sport sedans.  

There's big money in crossovers and SUVs, as competitors as diverse as Germany’s Porsche, Britain’s Jaguar, Japan’s Lexus and Detroit’s Cadillac and Lincoln are discovering with varying success. That's why Maserati and Alfa Romeo both need new offerings if they want to truly play in the global luxury game.