Skip to main content

A custom Porsche 993 Turbo goes up in flames at the New York Auto Show

Porsche 993 Turbo Fire
Anthony Purcell of Halcyon Photo
By all accounts, this year’s New York Auto Show was a total success. Some big reveals, neat surprises, and an all-around smooth show greeted the Digital Trends team and other press attendees last week.

Unfortunately, the public days haven’t gone as well, at least for the 2016 DUB Show Tour. Just ahead of the modified program’s debut dates, a Porsche 911 (993 generation) Turbo caught fire, and the whole thing was captured on camera, as reported by EGM CarTech.

The whole experience is a bit mysterious, as the car appears to spontaneously erupt in flames, sending smoke throughout the custom cars section of the Jacob Javits Convention Center. As soon as the flames were spotted, workers start yelling “fire,” and a hero emerges with a fire extinguisher.

Anthony Purcell, to whom we owe the above image, was photographing other vehicles in the room when the fire broke out. “No idea what happened, heard the car being moved and out of nowhere a super loud bang and Lord Jesus it’s a fire,” Purcell stated.

According to WNBC, the New York Fire Department hasn’t received any incident reports about the fire. It was unclear if the car was on when the fire started, and if the engine wasn’t running, then the spontaneous flames are even more of an enigma.

So far, no injuries or fatalities have been reported, unless you’re counting the loss of a rare and treasured sports car icon, as we are. Check out the video of the calamity below.

and here’s how the sports car looked after the fire was extinguished:

I guess you can say it was lit!

A photo posted by Vlad Shurigin (@zuumy) on

From the angle of the picture, the damage doesn’t look all that bad, but that crispy smell will be tough to get out the upholstery, we imagine.

Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
NASA's new crew transportation electric vehicles.

Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson

NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read more
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Lotus Eletre

Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.

From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30

Read more
Tesla shows off first Cybertruck after two years of delays
The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility.

The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility. Tesla

Tesla has shown off the first Cybertruck to roll off the production line at its new Gigafactory plant in Austin, Texas.

Read more