AMG has no plans to follow its rival BMW M into producing high-performance diesel engines. AMG boss Ola Kallenius said such a move would introduce too many compromises to its performance-focused line-up.

Citing the example of AMG’s new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8, he said: “The technology of performance gasoline engines is converging with diesel tech. direct injection; downsizing and turbocharging are all having an effect.

“We looked at diesel a few years back, but petrol engines have obvious benefits of sound, weight, agility and response.”