Body found in car after burn-outs reported

The body of a man has been found in a car after it burst into flames.

Reports of a Nissan Terrano doing a burn-out and then catching on fire triggered a police call-out last night.

Inspector Earle McIntosh said when the fire was put out police found the body of a man in the front of the car.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said it was not yet clear whether the man was dead or alive before the fire broke out.

She said a pathologist would be carrying out an inspection of the body this afternoon.

"We believe we know who he is but a formal identification has not taken place," Ms Hegarty said.

Police were treating the man's death as suspicious last night but Inspector William Taylor issued a statement this morning saying the death is not suspicious and inquiries are ongoing.

The man was found dead at 10.15pm last night in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga.

Auckland City east deputy fire chief Roger Callister attended the call-out and said it is not clear if the car found on fire was the one responsible for the burn-outs or if it was another.

"After the fire was extinguished fire offices started looking in the vehicle and noticed a victim in the car," Mr Callister said.

He said there were items in the car to suggest the death was not suspicious but Mr Callister would not comment on what those items were.

Mr Callister said the fire started inside the car but its cause was not determined before he left the scene.