Getting your hands on the world's ''most exclusive car'' isn't easy, as more than a dozen wealthy Australians and New Zealanders have discovered.

The prospective buyers offered the $3 million price for the LaFerrari, but were knocked back - the seven cars on offer will only go to the brand's most loyal customers who already own at least five Ferraris and agree to sell it back to the factory once they've had enough. Even then they won't be able to drive it on Australia's roads because the steering wheel is on the left.

"This is the most exclusive and most sought-after car in the world," said Ferrari Australasia president and CEO Herbert Appleroth, who admitted it's "really difficult" knocking back millionaire customers.

Mr Appleroth said some people looked at buying some everyday Ferraris - if there is such a thing - to better their chances of getting the pinnacle of Ferrari performance. ''But there are none left."

The carbon fibre-bodied LaFerrari teams a V12 engine with an electric motor.
It makes 718kW of power - about seven times that of a small car, almost double that of some modern Ferrari road cars and more than the company's Formula One racers - and will be able to top 350km/h.

The LaFerrari is one of three hybrid supercars under development; others are the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1.

With a price tag of €1.2 million ($1.7 million) the LaFerrari is the most expensive new car to ever wear the prancing horse badge. Add local taxes - including the 33 per cent luxury car tax, GST, 5 per cent import duty and stamp duty - and there won't be much change from $3 million. A typical monthly change in the exchange rate could easily add or subtract $100,000 to the price.

To offset the sticker shock owners will get a $10,000 one-eighth scale Amalgam model that will be an exact replica of their real car - right down to the seat stitching and colours.

They also fly to Italy for an individual seat fitting, ensuring the body-hugging pew is identically matched to the owner's shape - as in Formula One.
On the off-chance owners get bored with one of the world's most desirable cars, they won't be able to simply pop an ad online and see what they can get.

Part of the contract of ownership means Ferrari gets the first right of refusal when it comes time to sell - at the same price they paid for it.

Some 2500 people worldwide have expressed an interest in the model.

About 20 were from Australia and New Zealand, with only seven cars reserved for the region (it's understood at least four will go to Australians).

But the brand will only be building 499 in an effort to maintain exclusivity and - most likely - ensure prices will increase over time, as they have with former exclusive Ferrari models, particularly those from the 1950s and 1960s.
These can command upwards of $10 million at auction.