Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume has admitted that the Volkswagen Group-owned brand’s reputation “has suffered” as a result of the diesel scandal.

In a statement that confirmed that the sports car manufacturer would no longer employ diesel powered engines in its range of vehicles, Blume insisted that the brand was “not demonising diesel”.

But he added: “We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free.”

Porsche has not offered a new diesel engine in its line-up since removing the Panamera 4S Diesel and Macan S Diesel in February.

Now it has finally confirmed that it will “no longer offer vehicles with diesel propulsion”.

Porsche’s focus will now be on hybrids and pure electric vehicles like the upcoming Taycan, which is due to be launched next year.

By 2025, the brand claimed that “every second new Porsche vehicle could have an electric drive”.

Porsche has always relied on Audi engines to provide diesel powered options for its Cayenne and Macan SUVs and the Panamera grand tourer.

Quoted by the BBC, Blume conceded, however, that “Nevertheless, Porsche's image has suffered”, adding: “The diesel crisis caused us a lot of trouble.”

Despite Blume’s comments and a decline in diesel sales, the brand has grown its UK registrations by 12.3% from 8,899 (2017) to 9,979 YTD.

This month’s edition of AM magazine takes a closer look at the effects on manufacturer model line-ups of both the September 1 introduction of new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) and the diesel emissions scandal.

Copies will be reaching magazine subscribers this week.