MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE IGNITION SET IN THE FULL "OFF" POSITION. MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE VEHICLE PREPARING TO DEPART. THE CONTROL CONSOLE BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WITHIN 30 SECONDS, THE CONSOLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EMITTED A NOXIOUS CLOUD OF SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY WIFE AND I EVACUATED THE VEHICLE, AND I OBTAINED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM A NEARBY BUSINESS AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I SUSPECTED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE FIRE, AND I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT OCCURED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE IGNITION SET IN THE FULL "OFF" POSITION. I BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY VEHICLE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT. GIVEN THE SPEED AND THE LOCATION OF THE FIRE THAT IT CAUSED, THE MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS HARM TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND REDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK