Kiss the good times goodbye. Cars like the positively bonkers Mercedes-AMG GT might never exist again, or at the least, they might exist in far smaller numbers. That's the takeaway from a recent Financial Times report, which paints a none-too-rosy picture of AMG's future as CO2 emissions regulations continue to tighten in Europe.

Starting in 2021, automakers will face far steeper monetary penalties for failing to meet corporate average CO2 emissions standards in Europe, and Mercedes owner Daimler AG is still a long ways off from its goals. The company has a target of 100 g/km CO2 - that is, 100 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometer traveled in one of its new vehicles - and currently only manages 138 g/km.

The high-performance AMG brand, with its large, potent engines, is naturally among Daimler's worst offenders. The Mercedes-AMG GT, for example, is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8, pumping out between 469 and 577 horsepower, depending on trim. At its best, the car emits 261 g/km CO2 - more than two-and-a-half times Daimler's emissions target.

While Daimler says they "have the technologies within [their] portfolio to get within target range," per CEO Ola Källenius, "what we can't control is buyer behavior." To comply, the Financial Times reports that Daimler is expected to slash production of some of its worst polluters, including numerous Mercedes-AMG models. The availability of certain models is expected to be cut by up to 75 percent, according to several retailing executives who spoke with the Financial Times.

Not only is that bad news for automotive enthusiasts; it could spell disaster for Daimler AG, too. The company doesn't break down the contributions of all its many divisions in public financial reports, but analysts suspect that AMG is a big contributor to Daimler's profitability. Bernstein Research analyst Max Warburton went so far as to say it would be "a catastrophe for profitability" if Daimler were to retire its AMG brand.

Granted, AMG is far from the only automotive brand that could be in peril as a result of the European emissions standards; BMW is no doubt facing a similar dilemma with its performance M division, and Ford is reportedly scrambling to cut emissions until the pure-electric Mustang Mach-E finally launches. With that, it seems as though the (internal combustion) horsepower wars might finally be nearing an end - at least in Europe.