Videos of a Lamborghini Aventador catching fire on a Bengaluru road went viral recently. Reports say the car wasn’t completely gutted but suffered minor damage on the rear side where the flames were seen.
The incident sparked discussion among netizens about why vehicles, including high-end ones, catch fire randomly.
Sridhar R, professor of the advanced diploma course in automotive mechatronics at R V College of Engineering, brings attention to the rear-mounted engine in this model. “Front-mounted engines benefit from natural cooling as air flows in when the car cruises. With a rear engine, that cooling effect is reduced,” he explains. Skipping routine service in such cases can worsen the problem, he adds.
Sridhar believes the fire started in the low-pressure fuel line. “The fuel pressure sensor likely detected a leak and cut off further fuel supply, preventing a severe incident (like the entire car catching fire),” he adds.
Vinoth Muniyappa, a technical specialist in automobile telematics, highlights lapses during manufacturing. “If testing during production is inadequate, faults can recur across an entire model series. Sometimes defects emerge only after vehicles are put to use on the road,” he says.
Madhu Mohan R, a product designer who had worked in the automobile industry extensively, says even small damages can spark fires. “A tiny wiring damage, including from rat bites, can combine with high-octane fuel to trigger fire,” he explains.
Veteran motorsport engineer Pratap Jayaram, designer of the Reva electric car, says India’s traffic conditions aren’t ideal for such sports cars. “High-performance cars like Lamborghinis or Porsches are not meant for slow moving, stop-and-go traffic. In Europe, such cars always run at high speeds, which ensures cooling. Here, slow speeds and constant revving cause car exhausts to overheat,” he says.
Many owners worsen risks by installing aftermarket exhausts (not by original equipment manufacturers) in their quest for better performance and sound. “The exhausts can get red hot. Without proper insulation, they can ignite wiring or plastic parts,” he warns.
EVs, a challenge
Sridhar explains that in EVs, even one overheating battery cell can trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction. “Internal combustion engines are more controllable since fuel supply can be cut off,” he says.
Jayaram cautions: “Lithium-ion batteries enter a state of thermal runaway (uncontrolled increase in temperature) above 55°C. Once that starts, there’s no stopping it.” Established companies test vehicles for years, but some new-age firms rush to market, which is why such incidents occur, he adds.
Prevention
Experts stress on the importance of routine maintenance, avoiding unauthorised modifications, and installing extinguishers. “Technicians can catch weak fuel lines early,” says Sridhar.
He warns against using water to douse the fire. “Use dry powder extinguishers to cut oxygen. Switch off ignition, exit quickly, and use the extinguisher if it’s a small flame,” he advises. Mohan insists RTO regulations must mandate in-car extinguishers.