Purists look away now! It seems BMW's M division could soon be producing its famous sports cars with diesel engines under their bonnets.

The German firm's performance arm has long been in search of the perfect combination of power and drivability - and it seems modern derv units haven't been ruled out as the answer.

At the launch of the firm's latest M car, the 1 Series M Coupe, BMW product manager James Morrison explained diesels could be an option for its performance models in the future.

"We never say never," he said. "I don't think M or BMW are willing to get hooked up in what's happened in the past. They will always look to the best solution for the best performance and everyday usability."

There are few manufacturers currently offering performance diesel models. Seat has the best offerings at present with its FR-badged range, but with fuel prices heading ever skywards it's likely more makers will enter the fray.

Diesel is not only cheaper, but it offers improved fuel economy, access to lower tax bands and the torque-filled powerplants are great for everyday drivers offering bundles of low-down punch.

Morrison added: "Diesels have come on such a long way. 1 Series sales alone are about 65-70 per cent diesels, so it's a really important market for us.

"Our 123d has very few competitors as there aren't many manufacturers producing high performance diesels. I'm sure this is likely to change soon."

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