Fiat has announced it will be splitting the Maserati sports brand from Ferrari in order to link it more closely to Alfa Romeo.

"Under this deal, Alfa Romeo and Maserati will estabilsh a close technical and commercial collaboration especially in big international markets," Fiat says.

Chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne says the move is essential for Alfa Romeo's future development,. "We believe that in the context of the relaunch of our car business, we need to pay close attention to the specific character of each brand," he says.

Fiat announced in the aftermath of the "amicable divorce" that it was reviewing its portfolio of car brands — Fiat, Lanca and Alfa Romeo.

Fiat also said Maserati would continue to work closely with Ferrari on engine technology and its commercial network.