WHILE WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAD A SUDDEN FAILURE OF SOME COMPONENT IN THE GASOLINE STORAGE OR DELIVERY SYSTEM. WE SMELLED GAS AND SAW IT BEING SPILLED ON THE ROAD BEHIND US. WE PULLED OVER, CUT OFF AND EXITED THE CAR. WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF EXITING THE CAR, IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS BURNED OR HURT, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC INJURY WAS APPARENT. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR