WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AS I WAS DRIVING SO I PULLED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. ONCE THE CAR STOPPED, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS SO I EXITED THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD MAKE IT TO THE SCENE, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED COMPLETELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CLASSIFY IT AS A "MECHANICAL FAILURE". *TR