Subaru BRZ to be sold only on web

The new Subaru BRZ sports car -- a highly sought after version of the same Toyota 86 sports car -- goes on sale this Monday at noon.

With supply of just 201 cars available until 2013, Subaru expect their version of the car to sell out almost immediately. The waiting list for the Toyota version already stretches into the new year.

"We believe this is a world first," Subaru spokesman David Rowley said. "Essentially it is being sold online because supply is so limited at the present time that we do not have enough cars to give even one to all of our dealers. By going online buyers will be able to specify colour and equipments levels, and take care of insurance."

The BRZ has a national drive-away price of $37,150 for the manual and $39,730 for the automatic. It comes with free servicing for three years or 60,000km.

The jointly-developed Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ has been hailed as the best affordable sports car since 1989's original Mazda MX-5. Toyota planning chief Yoshi Sasaki has called it an antidote for "boring modern sports cars that do everything for the driver".

Even with Toyota limiting supply of its version of the car to 250 a month and sales beginning only last month, the 86/BRZ is expected to become Australia's best selling sports car in 2012. In the UK the first year’s allocation of 4000 is understood to be almost sold out.

Though not as fast as some hatchbacks - it takes more than seven seconds for the manual version the 86/BRZ to reach 100kmh from standing - it is winning acclaim for exciting dynamics.