From some sciency website:

"...gasoline vapour has a much lower autoignition temperature than the gasoline itself. Namely, if you spill gasoline on a hot road (say in the hot summer day) you will be able to ignite gasoline by contact with a cigarette easily, just because of the gasoline vapour layer that would be produced above the surface of the gasoline. Not to even mention throwing the cigarette into the container with gasoline that has been closed for some time and is therefore full of gasoline vapours."

I remember Myth Busters doing tests on this. It's next to impossible, but given the right set of circumstances, it can happen. That's of course assuming it was a cigarette issue, which I'm not sure is even in evidence.

Why do I get feeling that this incident was staged. Well planned for.

"An exotic catches fire at a petrol station" There you have it - Worldwide News in less than 48hrs

Automakers fav

I actually saw this car blast down Richmond in TO last week......sounded great! What a shame.

You need a build up of vapour and ignition source such as spark to accomplish this. These conditions are possible while fuelling any car especially in dry conditions like we have here now.....that's why aircraft are grounded before fuelling; before the nozzle comes close to the filler

....I always tend to avoid that gas station

That's different. Heating or preheating the vapors would lower the ignition temp.

A puddle or can of gas just emitting vapors in a closed space is what I was thinking of, or the cool gas coming from the pump.

That's enough
 

I was just about to trade my 2000 986 S + a little cash for one of these but after seeing the photo I'll stick with my beautiful 986.
Larry (The Bald Eagle)

According to the news, it was gas spill/exhaust. The guy only had it for a couple of weeks. See, never buy the 1st MY. That's why I'm waiting! :cool:

In the case exhaust is the blame, how could they fix this, a special porsche gas deflectors that raises out of the car?

Naw, just take a tip from the Boxster and put the filler up at the front where it's supposed to be! :p

About 15 minutes from me! I have never seen the car on the road before this story.

Canada.

Owner is probably still apologizing for all the fuss his car has caused.

"Nothing worth getting upset aboot"....

Hey rich guy. You put the nozzle in the filler first THEN squeeze the handle. 918`s run on Canadian pump gas ? Who knew ?:ah: