Close call as revved coupe explodes

A FIRE in the carpark of a Surfers Paradise apartment complex yesterday appears to have been caused by a revhead asking more of his engine than it could handle.

The man, who did not wish to speak to media, had been revving his car while parked in a carpark at Paradise Towers on Trickett St.

About 12.30pm his LPG- powered Toyota Lexus coupe exploded into flames, sending plumes of black smoke in the sky.

The owner managed to get out of the vehicle without injury but the flames damaged the balcony of an apartment above the car.

A number of fire crews were called and quickly extinguished the blaze. The Lexus was destroyed. Resident Shane Groat said he could see the fire from the Q1 building where he worked.

He said he rushed to his apartment and found his car just metres from the blaze but thankfully undamaged.

“There were three explosions,” Mr Groat said.

“Luckily my car was all right but imagine if someone had been sitting in the balcony above it.”

Other residents said the man regularly revved the car’s engine in the carpark.