Looks like this new 918 owner had an awful experience at the gas station.
Jalopnik has the story, apparently the driver started to move away from the pump + still had the nozzle attached to the car
The fuel filler is in the area near the sail pillar, and the twin hot exhaust exits are up top of the engine grille.

Click to view attachment

No one ever said you needed smarts to buy one of those, just be filthy rich! Then he leaves it right there by the pumps. Two seconds would have had it away from them before he got out.

Oops.

I guess the battery tray over the longitudinal wasn't the worst design flaw ever then...

Yep...intelligence is not a requirement for becoming wealthy. Just look at most of the Hollywood elite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sev-vPCkVII

Those pumps are supposed to have a break away handle. How the hell did he manage to do that? Seriously something else had to have happened there. Gas stations are setup so shit like that can't happen. Especially right by their pumps

gas tank isn't up front?

Click to view attachment

carefully fill without spilling fuel onto paint,then seal tank.

a momentary lapse,some distraction.

He should have hung the hose up in the pump receptacle when he was done filling it up.

You're Welcome.

I never understand how this happens. I've filled up 1000's of times in my life and not once did driving away with the handle still in the car even come remotely close to happening .

I've grown up in Oregon & lived here most my life. We don't pump our own gas. I did this once in a rental car in Vegas. Started the pump & went inside to grab a drink. Came back out & got in the car & started to pull away. Heard something so stopped. I'd gone all of 6 ft but the handle had popped off like they are made to. I got out embarrassed as hell. It's never happened again but it is possible. I can only see it from someone who doesn't pump their own gas. Oregon is weird that way

The fuel nozzle+hose assy. is approx 8', just at the breakaway joint. The breakaway joint then leaves the remainder of the fuel hose attached at the pump. So whatever residual fuel is still in the 8' fuel hose section goes wherever it wants to during this (yanking) episode. These brain fading self serve customer incidents happen at my buddy's Arco station so often, that he keeps the repair o- ring kit and repair tool in his office. Luckily nothing more than spilled gas on the ground.
At the top of the 918 engine grill resides the 2 exhaust outlets, and directly below 2 mufflers+2 cats. Not a very welcoming environment with the introduction of raw spilled gas.
Marty

Oregon has too many stoners to have people pumping their own gas...

only have to be in the lucky sperm club and be born into it. very sad

Canaduh

Right. risk your life for a hunk of materials......that would take smarts.

tino

Just awfulClick to view attachment

He hit the dot bots rolling out of the gas station....

Do you think there was time to grab this fire extinguisher just next to the 918 + the island ?
With all of this toxic stuff on the ground +in the air, do you think that this gal can get a closer look ?
Click to view attachment

Not once have I failed to put the gas nozzle back when fueling my 914...

Fuel tank is right behind the driver stacked above the hybrid battery. Gashole is on the drivers B pillar.

What he said !
I have to admit that is the truth, biggest clue is with the front trunk up...
You can't see the road...brilliant.

This pic is the close proximity of the 918 fuel door+the L side exhaust pipe. This might be the culprit, add some fuel nozzle gas splash jumping over the sail panel...recipe for Chernobyl.
I'll stick with Heinz Nordhoff's 914 fuel filler !
MartyClick to view attachment

Uh..this picture leaves me thinking about something else...

Dibs on the front calipers!

I would have sacrifically thrown my Stupid Human body on said car if I was dumb enough to douse my own almost million dollar Porsche....

Its so sad to see such a trick bit of speed ware go to a firey death...

I feel bad for the tech who has to do a damage estimate... cause the insurance might rebuild it, It is worth a fuck ton of money.

Ramble over

Call it genetics, but the fire extinguisher is not the first thing I saw in that picture!

Ambulance-chasing lawyer's accomplice ?

Easy come easy go for these folks. Probably will order a LaFerrari to replace it...Oh wait, they catch on fire too !

Maybe he did not read the decal on the pump that states "Do not top off tank"

Yikes! Those are some ugly wheels!

I guess the hooker he picked up was really hot...

Now THERE'S a DAPO....

Self service pumps in my area are setup so when you let go of the handle, it shuts off.
So......you need to stand there the whole time.

Seems like a smart idea.

I smell a big insurance claim coming...and it smells fishy (not the 'lady' or the smell of burnt C/F and batteries).

Some footage from the gas station cctv shows the 918 owner using a window squeegee trying to remove gas off of the exterior. Could be the result of an overfill or fuel nozzle burp. The small numbers on his clothing might indicate fuel spillage on him as well...One lucky dude that he didn't get torched. #7 (exhaust tip) shows an orange flame starting. The fuel made its way down through some open body seams, looks like ignition was from underneath, then spreading to the back half.Click to view attachment

At the point of ignition he was still standing next to the car, #6 is an exhaust tip that is just catching on fire Click to view attachment

Succinct.

Last pic is the inferno taking the 918 back half. The owner must have been singed somewhat, as his shape can still be seen behind the flames.
All of this in seconds and luckily no deaths. There is going to be some 'Splainin here. Click to view attachment

DONOR CAR!

Seriously though, what a douche nozzle, who buys a car like that then uses a gas station squeegee to clean off a fuel spill...

I would buy it back and make a lounge chair out of the front end....I think the chick is looking for her purse.

If you know sh_t about cars and you buy a $1mil car....why are you pumping your own gas?

Imagine if there was full service and the gas attendant did this?

Full service? ....I must be getting old....

If I had that car I'd hate the idea of letting someone else fill the tank. I hate it when I'm in Oregon and have to trust the job to someone who doesn't care nearly as much about my car as I do.

This guy may not have been paying careful attention, but I'm not sure it's inspired design for the fuel fill point to be so close to a hot exhaust source.

Fuel tank is in the same location as the CGT, but constructed differently.
From the pictures it looks like the tank held together, as there was no explosion.Click to view attachment

The lucky survivor+short time 918 owner, no it's not Chevy Chase !
A well known Toronto biz. man.Click to view attachment

Funny...in NJ they pump your gas too and won't let you do it yourself. I grew up with that, thought it was totally normal. Then moved South and had to (gasp) do it myself? Seriously?? I hated (still do) getting out of the car when it's cold/raining/hot/whatever and having to pump my own gas. Obviously gotten used to it, but really liked having someone else do it for me. Sure...call me lazy (I am), spoiled (I wish), or 'entitled' (yeah right), but I just hate pumping my own gas when I'm in a business suit or in bad weather.

That's the ONE thing I really liked about NJ (besides the pizza, diners, and overall great Italian food)

Willie Wonka!

#Firstworldproblems

Looks like his name could be Chauncey LeDouche... If I had that much cash I doubt I'd purse my lips like that; it's just asking for trouble

Must have been a tough walk home....

Thanks for the analysis.... I'm not left wondering anymore...