The 50 dealerships selected to sell Vauxhall's new VX220 will be given specialist training to understand the roadster's specific servicing and aftersales requirements.

Robert Gutsche, VX220 brand manager, said: “The VX220 is a specialist car and to ensure the best customer care we have established a network of dealers for it.

“As only a limited number of cars will be available, it would have been impractical for the VX220 to be supported through each of the 500 dealers nationwide.”

Dealers were chosen on several factors, including geographic location and showroom and technical facilities. The £22,995 VX220, heralded as one of the most significant model launches in Vauxhall's history, will be produced at a new factory on the Lotus site at Hethel, Norfolk. Vauxhall intends to build 3,000 units each year between 2000 and 2003, with the UK taking 1,000.