Say what you will about the retro design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Some call it a contemporary take on a classic shape, others may deride the lack of originality. But at least it’s consistent. Which is a heck of a lot more than we can say for what MEC Design has done to it.

The Berlin-based tuner has been dreaming up how it could butcher the gullwing’s lines, and from the looks of things, they’ve done a bang-up job. First thing you notice is the nose – you could hardly miss it – that apparently attempts to bring the preceding SLR McLaren’s F1-inspired treatment back. But MEC hasn’t stopped there. The full aero kit includes side skirts with integrated exterior lighting. The rear end fits in a spoiler, chrome tailpipes and a new diffuser. There are comically oversized and blinged-out rims. And they’ve theoretically fitted a carbon and Alcantara steering wheel.

And that’s where the sigh of relief comes in. Thankfully, MEC Design hasn’t actually gotten its hands on an actual SLS to perform these mods. And for the sake of everything we hold dear, we hope they never do.

It could be argued that Mercedes-Benz’ AMG division — more than any other brand — is culpable for perpetuating the horsepower wars. Not that we’re complaining, mind you, but sooner or later, consumer demands for environmental responsibility will catch up even with these stratospheric performance automobiles. The power-crazed tuners at the Benz performance division can see the writing on the wall, and are reportedly preparing to do something about it. More than one thing, actually.

First up is the electric version of the SLS, AMG’s first in-house developed product. Confirmation came this past summer that an electric SLS – with the equivalent of 526 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque on tap – would see production, although no launch date has been revealed at this point. There’s no telling if the electric powertrain in the green gullwing will foreshadow the trickle-down effect into other vehicles, but we’d hardly be surprised.

What could end up powering more commonplace future AMG products, however, are diesel engines. The possibility was first mooted nearly two years ago, and confirmed as a possible course of action a bit over a year ago by AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg. According to the latest reports, AMG is still toying with the idea, but given the torque-heavy capacity of modern diesels – German ones, especially – we could be looking at oil-burning performance Mercedes before we know it.