"Burning Car" developed the futurist style of "Metamatic" and was pacier than most of the album's material. Its staccato introduction was reminiscent of the metallic guitar notes that kicked off the track "Some of Them" from "Systems of Romance", Foxx's last album with former band Ultravox. The title came from a chapter in J.G. Ballard's SF novel "Concrete Island" and its automobile reference was shared by a number of tracks on "Metamatic". The B-side, "20th Century", was used as the theme for the London Weekend Television arts and music show "20th Century Box".