A Mercedes supercar apparently burst into flames shortly before it was due to be delivered to its new owner in Huddersfield.
The powerful C43 AMG, worth in the region of £50,000, was being given a pre-delivery test drive by a member of the Mercedes-Benz dealership on Leeds Road when a suspected electrical fault caused a fire which resulted in extensive damage.
The staff member, a man in his 40s, managed to pull over on Deighton Road, near the working men’s club, before the flames spread to the car’s passenger compartment.
Kerry Blomfield, crew commander at Huddersfield Fire Station, said the black Mercedes was being driven back to the dealership when the driver heard a “pop” before fire took hold in the engine bay.
The cause is not known but is suspected to be an electrical or engine fault.
The driver got out of the vehicle and was not hurt.
By the time a fire crew arrived, flames were spreading to the passenger area. A firefighter wearing breathing apparatus put out the fire.
Police officers turned traffic around while fire crews dealt with the blaze at around 3pm on Monday.
