Autoblog

Lada emergency is no mere fire drill

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:01:00 EST

We imagine that many a Russian Lada has been compared to a ticking time bomb - which is not to say that there aren't any good Ladas out in the wild, of course - but the example you'll see in the video pasted below takes the cake. It is, quite literally, an Improvised Explosive Device.

If an exploding Lada alone isn't enough reason for you to watch, perhaps the reaction of the passengers is more of a draw. Their reaction to the impending doom is so quick that it's almost as if the two occupants were just waiting for the engine of this poor machine to reach its glorious and destructive demise.

See what we're talking about in the video pasted below.

Continue reading Lada emergency is no mere fire drill

Lada emergency is no mere fire drill originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alleged drunk driver so intoxicated he didn't realize his car was on fire

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos

"Are you that drunk," the officer asks, "that you did not realize that your car was on fire and you were sitting in a burning car?"

With smoke pouring from under the hood of the Pontiac Bonneville, Officer Eric Hornbacher of the Grand Rapids, MI, police force had just helped the driver from his vehicle, incredulous that he was unaware of the potentially life-threatening situation.

According to Mlive.com, the police were summoned to the fiery sedan shortly after four in the morning, when neighbors raised the alarm about a vehicle that had been revving its engine for an hour. Apparently the driver, who was later arrested, had fallen asleep with his foot on the gas pedal, according to the report. The car was already on fire when the officer pulled him out, but it wasn't a minute or two after he had removed the driver that the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.

"It is a good feeling knowing that he's okay," Hornbacher told Mlive, "Granted he went to jail that night, but at least he went somewhere."

Watch the crazy police dash-cam video and an interview with the officer after the jump.

Continue reading Alleged drunk driver so intoxicated he didn't realize his car was on fire

Alleged drunk driver so intoxicated he didn't realize his car was on fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boss firefighter keeps spraying after burning car blows up in his face

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

Not everyone has the stuff it takes to be a firefighter. Take the gent you see holding the hose in the image above: as point-man on the water jet, he strides up to the burning Chevrolet to put out the fire. While performing what appears to be a routine hose-down right next to the sedan, something inside the car explodes with enough force to jolt the cameraman in the nearby apartment.

What's the fireman do? You can see for yourself in the vid after the jump, but it looks a lot like a shrug of the shoulders and getting on with business. Masked firefighter, we salute you.

Continue reading Boss firefighter keeps spraying after burning car blows up in his face

Boss firefighter keeps spraying after burning car blows up in his face originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Challenger torched on assembly line due to unattended heat lamp?

Chris Shunk — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge

In March, Chrysler served up a smoking-hot 31 percent sales increase in compared to the same month in 2010. Unfortunately for the automaker, the "heat and serve" theme continued this week, as there were two stories about flaming Chrysler products Monday alone. First we told you about a Dodge Durango turned car-b-que in front of hundreds of onlookers at a Washington D.C. parade. Then came news that China has suspended importation of the Jeep Wrangler due to complaints of vehicle fires.

Now we have a photo of a Dodge Challenger (above) posted by Moparts forum poster Mccannix that allegedly went up in flames at the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant. There is no official cause for the fire, though as you can tell from the picture above the Challenger must have been really cooking.

One unsubstantiated report claims that a heat lamp got too close to some paperwork, which started the blaze. Even sadder is the fact that the high-end wheels tell us that we're likely looking at a burnt SRT8. A moment of silence, please.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Moparts via Jalopnik]

2011 Dodge Challenger torched on assembly line due to unattended heat lamp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another Ferrari spontaneously combusts

Chris Shunk — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Ferrari, UAW/Unions

Ferraris are best known for their looks, performance, and exclusivity, but lately, it seems one could add flammability to that list of attributes. The latest case of Ferrari flambé involves a beautiful black 599 GTB Fiorano, which self-ignited at a stop light while being driven by someone who wasn't even the car's owner. Martin Bullen, who works at supercar garage Romans International in Banstead, UK, was at the wheel when he heard a strange sound followed by a brilliant display of smoke and fire. The £250,000 exotic was a total loss, and the 28-year-veteran of the high-end garage had to inform his boss of the Ferrari's fate.

Luckily for Bullen, his employer is a forgiving and understanding man. Garage owner Paul Jaconelli said he wouldn't hold the destroyed 599 against his employee, and that the vehicle was still covered under warranty. That's good news for Bullen, but Ferrari owners the world over must be wondering if their expensive toys will be the next to join the ranks of the carbequed. This isn't exactly what they bargained for when they decided to get a hot car. Head to The Sun for more pics of the latest Fire-ari. Thanks for the tip, Chris!

Gallery: 599 GTB Fiorano in flames

[Source: The Sun]

Another Ferrari spontaneously combusts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 May 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari flamb� in the UK

Dan Roth — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Supercars, Ferrari

The world will not miss another red Ferrari. Don't misunderstand, watching your car, any car burn to the ground is an awful experience. Not only that, Ferrari is arguably the exotic brand of choice for good reason. Sonorous engines, sumptuous interiors, often handsome (sometimes hideous) styling, ridiculous and thrilling performance capabilities, the list goes on.

It's just that this may be part of a bigger cosmic plan to weed out the red Ferraris and replace them with less common hues. Perhaps it's ennui with seeing red on cars carrying the Prancing Horse that leads us to this ho-hum response? Either way, this sucks. According to ThisIsHampshire.net, the 360 depicted here simply burst into flames on a busy roadway in Southampton earlier this week. Thankfully, nobody was inside, and based on eyewitness reports, we understand that the light show was popcorn-worthy.

[Source: ThisIsHampshire.net]

Ferrari flamb� in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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