Autocar confidential: Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot

This week's gossip from the automotive industry has news of Alfa Romeo's SUV future, Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche's thoughts on diesel engines, Peugeot's upcoming electrified range and the F12 Berlinetta replacement. 

Alfa Romeo's future in the SUV market

Alfa Romeo is jumping headlong into the profitable SUV segment.

The mid-sized Stelvio will have its debut at the Los Angeles show next month ahead of its launch next year, and the firm is looking to follow it up with models to rival the BMW X1 and X5.

“The world is gravitating to SUVs,” said Alfa CEO Reid Bigland. “A few years ago an Alfa Romeo or Maserati SUV would have been sacrilegious, but now? It makes sense to give customers what they want.”

Read more: Alfa Romeo to launch BMW X1 and X5 rivals, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio review 

Dieter Zetsche's thoughts on diesel engines

The future is electric and diesel is getting a bad press, but Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche believes it would be “absolutely stupid” for diesel cars to be allowed to die out.

When asked how long he envisaged diesel engines surviving, Zetsche replied: “Exactly as long as gasoline engines.”

Read more: New Mercedes-AMG E63 to pack 603bhp punch, Mercedes CEO: killing diesel is "absolutely stupid"

Peugeot's upcoming electrified range

Peugeot is to introduce three plug-in hybrids and two EVs by 2021.