The latest rubber-burner from Subaru, the BRZ, will hit the showrooms this summer and the Japanese automaker is trying to keep the prices as competitive as possible. The base model is priced at £24,995 and if you go for the one with all the toys, it's £27,995.

There are two trim levels, the SE and the SE Lux, both with a 2.0-litre boxer engine and the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, for an extra £1,500. There's also a torque-sensing limited slip diff, 17-inch alloys and automatic dual-zone air-con. Next year, a more basic S model is expected to hit the showrooms for a slightly smaller pricetag.

Both variants come with electric mirrors, keyless entry, push-button start, leather-trimmed steering wheel, park brake and gearstick and a six-speaker stereo with CD, radio and iPod connectivity.

If you splash out on the SE Lux, you'll get heated seats for your trouble. The only two optional extras are Pioneer sat-nav for £1,000 and special paint finishes for £500. There are also six colours to choose from – Satin White Pearl, Sterling Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, San Remo Red, and WR Blue Mica.

If you’re a boy racer who wants a little extra, you can get Subaru’s Everything Taken Care of (ETCo) aftercare package at no extra cost. This covers minor dent and scratch repairs, alloy wheel repairs, monthly wash, annual valet, lost keys replacement, service collection and delivery, annual wheel alignment check, first MOT cover, and winter wheel and tyre storage, accident management service and a contribution to insurance cover excess.

That all sounds very practical indeed, but we just want to try it out in a drag race against the new Audi TT RD plus.

www.subaru.co.uk/brz

By Georgia Lewis

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