A brand new 2016 Ford Everest burst into flames in Australia during a test drive by a local automotive journalist.

The Everest has been both designed and engineered in Australia and during the test drive, journalist Peter Barnwell noticed a number of warning lights appearing across the instrument panel. Before long, the display went black and the engine stopped.

Soon after, flames started bursting out of the engine bay with the fire then quickly spreading through the cabin and to the rear end. Despite local fire crews arriving in just five minutes, the inferno destroyed much of the car and was so intense that it took 20 minutes to extinguish.

The exact cause of the fire isn’t known but it has sparked speculation that Ford may have to issue a recall if the engine or electrical system are at fault. If that’s the case, then over 100,000 Ford Ranger models may also have to be recalled as they use the same engine and electricals.

Discussing the blaze, Barnwell said “They couldn’t put the fire out for ages. Some of the material wouldn’t extinguish. There were explosions and bits of shrapnel firing 50m down the road. I got as far away from the thing as I could.”

It is believed that the destroyed Everest arrived at Ford Australia’s engineering headquarters for an investigation into the cause of the fire late yesterday.

H/T to Jonathan! 

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This test drive didn’t go as planned.
Posted by news.com.au on Wednesday, December 2, 2015

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