“Porsche are trying to deprive Londoners of their democratic right to decide in the Mayoral election on 1 May whether they want gas guzzling and polluting cars to drive in London when there is absolutely no need for them to do so,” said a Mayoral spokesman.

“They are also trying to impose on all Londoners unnecessary levels of pollution and greenhouse gases by a tiny minority.

“No one is allowed to throw their rubbish in the street and Porsche should not be allowed to impose gas guzzling polluting cars on Londoners who do not want them.” Porsche has said it plans to challenge Ken Livingstone's increase of the London congestion charge to £25 per day for “gas guzzling” vehicles. The luxury carmaker has said the new charge is disproportionate, and intends to request a judicial review into the changes, applying to the courts for an order getting rid of the new charge if it does not receive a satisfactory response.

“A massive congestion charge increase is quite simply unjust,” said managing director of Porsche Cars GB Andy Goss. “Thousands of car owners driving a huge range of cars will be hit by a disproportionate tax which is clear will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions.” Porsche models that will be affected by the new charge include the Cayenne and the 911 model, with price tags of up to £50,000 and £80,000, respectively.