It wasn't until just recently that the idea for a Maserati SUV was completely taboo, but times are tough and if Maserati->ke51 hopes to stay in the game, they'll need to bring the bulk. After all, with only 5,675 units sold a year and big plans to push sales up to 50,000 units a year, Maserati will need all of the lineup expansion they can muster to see that dream become a reality. Enter the Maserati SUV Concept.

Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has a clear picture of what he wants to see in Maserati's future, and that image has been projected into the first concept version of the company's future SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee->ke936 platform. The future SUV will most likely be powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine mated to a ZF eight speed automatic gearbox. This engine will deliver about 450 HP, but the European market may only be seeing a 3.0 L V6 producing about 300 HP.

There's not much information on the Maserati SUV Concept just yet, but all will be revealed next week at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, so stay tuned!

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