R3m Lamborghini up in flames

Published Aug 1, 2013

Share

Supercars are known for blazing around race tracks, but footage of a Lamborghini Murcielago roadster bursting into flames has given new meaning to the word hot rod.

In the video, which was captured on Monday night on Kloof Road just above Camps Bay in Cape Town, smoke billows from the Italian sports car as flames shoot up, igniting tree branches above.

Fire and rescue services spokesman Theo Layne said firefighters rushed to the scene.

“It took about 15 minutes to extinguish the flames.”

The driver was unhurt, but the damage was done.

The supercar, which had an estimated value of R3 million, was torched.

Lamborghini’s Johannesburg brand manager, David Smith, said this was only the second recorded incident of a Lamborghini bursting into flames in South Africa.

He said it was not clear what caused the car to catch fire.

“The owner and the insurance company will do an investigation into what brought it on.”

“We will do whatever we can to assist, it’s important that the cause is found.”

Forensic expert David Klatzow confirmed that he would be investigating the cause of the fire.

Klatzow was part of the investigation into a Honda Jazz that burned out in 2009, claiming the life of satirist Justin Nurse’s two-year-old daughter.

Production of the Murcielago Roadster, a two-door, two-seater sports car, ended in 2010 and it has since been replaced by the Aventador. According to the company’s production figures more than 4000 of the luxury cars were built during its production cycle.

Smith said: “It’s definitely a rare car, but I don’t think people in South Africa understand how many Lamborghinis we have in this country.” - Cape Argus

 

Newsletter note: If you use Gmail to read IOL's newsletters , note that Google is rolling out a new tabbed inbox that filters your mail into 5 separate tabs - Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates and Forums. IOL emails will probably be sent to the “Promotions” tab instead of the “Primary” tab. If you don't want it that way, drag the newsletter from the Promotions tab to the Primary tab. An alert will pop up. Click “yes” and your newsletters will continue to go to your Primary inbox.

Related Topics: