While the vehicle was being operated normally, it caught fire. We were driving on a summer day in August. Conditions were humid, with temperatures in the mid-80s. The vehicle was on the return leg of an approximately 30-mile drive. Traffic was somewhat heavy, with speeds generally below 20 mph and occasional stops. We first noticed a slight burning smell, followed shortly afterward by a distinct puff of white smoke coming from under the hood on the passenger side, near the windshield. We immediately decided to stop the vehicle and get out. Within approximately 30 seconds, we observed the first visible flames. Within about one minute, the fire had spread rapidly and the vehicle was engulfed in flames. By approximately 3½ minutes, the entire front half of the vehicle had been destroyed by the fire. Parts of the vehicle were blown off during the fire, with some debris traveling across the roadway and into the nearby woods. Fortunately, there were no injuries because we recognized the danger and exited the vehicle quickly.