Alfa Romeo to go it alone

Next week will see the unveiling of a five-year strategy for the Fiat-Chrysler group, and it's expected to include the spin-off of Alfa Romeo as a separate entity. That would see the struggling brand sit apart in a similar way to Ferrari and Maserati, in which the group also has a majority stake.

The plans also include limiting Alfa Romeo production to Italy, sourcing engines from Ferrari and having only rear-wheel drive cars -- all strategies that have proved successful for Maserati.

According to industry journal Automotive News, Fiat-Chrysler head Sergio Marchionne wants to shear off Alfa as part of a relaunch for the brand, which includes public disclosure of its financial statements.

"Marchionne needs to make Alfa's P&L clearly visible to make this new relaunch attempt into a credible business proposition," a source is cited as saying. Echoing the Maserati strategy, there would be only rear-wheel drive Alfa cars, with all-wheel drive platforms being used only for SUVs and crossovers.

Marchionne has rolled out a number of different strategies -- four in total -- to boost Alfa out of the doldrums over the past 10 years. But despite the most recent plan having a target of seeing annual sales rise to 500,000 by the end of this year, the brand finished 2013 with just over 20 per cent of that figure.

Marchionne will reveal the new Fiat-Chrysler strategy on May 6.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott