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Tips to keep your car cooler this summer

Driving in Indian summers can be quite an unpleasant experience. Here are some ways to beat the heat.
1 min read17 Apr '17
Autocar India News DeskAutocar India News Desk
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Keeping windows cracked open allows cross-ventilation, which expels hot air from the cabin while the car is parked.

Keep your phones, MP3 players, CDs and other belongings away from direct sunlight to avoid damage.

Unless you’re one of the lucky few living in the cooler parts of India, by now, almost all of us are painfully aware of the fact that we live in one of the most torrid countries in the world.
A point that becomes especially apparent when you enter your car that’s been parked in the sun; even if it’s been there for just half an hour. While we can’t totally get rid of that ‘driving in a furnace’ feeling, the following tips will definitely offer some much needed relief and help keep the car’s cabin relatively cooler.
 
Keep the windows slightly open 
When parked directly in the sun, keeping the windows slightly down aids in cross-ventilation and extracting heated air from the cabin. However, make sure the window isn’t rolled down too much, else, it may pose a security risk. 
 
Buy a solar-powered fan 
These are quite effective and help in keeping your car cool even during extended hours in the sun. These solar-powered fans extract hot air from the cabin (just like a fan in your computer’s cabinet) and when paired with a cracked window, are very effective. Google ‘solar auto cool fan India’ and you should find a few websites selling them and can be bought under Rs 1,000.
 
Get your air-conditioner serviced
It may sound obvious but many people tend to overlook the condition of their HVAC system. A clogged filter or low levels of refrigerant gas unnecessarily burden an already overworked system and significantly reduce the cooling performance. Typically, servicing the AC costs around Rs 2,500 for most hatchbacks and smaller sedans.
 
 

India to Paris in a Renault Kwid part 2: Journey through China

We witness the sights and sounds of China and experience the country's highways as we continue onward on our journey.
4 min read15 Apr '17
Autocar India News DeskAutocar India News Desk

The toughest road we faced in China and perhaps the whole trip; thick snow and sheer drops kept the drivers on their toes and their hearts in their mouths.

t may not look as majestic as you see in the photos, but this too is the Great Wall of China; albeit the smaller, western end of it.

The Kumul desert is our introduction to the main Gobi desert we’ll encounter later; it has soft yellow sandy dunes big enough to rival Abu Dhabi.

From 4,000 metres up to 154 metres below sea level - this basin in Turpan is the lowest inland point on earth.

We’re still in China, right? Kashgar, the last city before Kyrgyzstan is a melting pot of several cultures, evident as we stop for a photo outside its famous Id Kah Mosque.

Chinese hotpot is quite a treat; choose your ingredients, cook them yourself.

This section of highway in the Sichuan province can withstand earthquakes, and cost Rs 80 crore to build – per kilometre!

The region’s most reliable mode of transportation meets the Kwid.

Even in sub-zero temperatures, we face slowdowns due to traffic of the living, breathing kind.

A monk by the prayer wheels at a Tibetan monastery.

Tyre-deep snow at 4,120m above sea level; the perfect place to reflect on the drive, or have a snowball fight.

The Art of Performance Tour by Jaguar

We get to put Jaguar's India line-up through its paces at a performance workshop in Aamby Valley.
2 min read12 Apr '17
Mark NarakadenMark Narakaden

India's top model

Where does the new Tata Hexa stand against the competition? We bring you excerpts from the article ‘India’s next top model’ published in Autocar India’s February 2017 issue.
2 min read11 Apr '17
Autocar India News DeskAutocar India News Desk

Three cheers for Datsun

On Datsun’s third anniversary in India, Redigo owners share their experiences about the car.
3 min read29 Mar '17
Autocar India News DeskAutocar India News Desk

Great Ford Endeavour Drive experience

Ford India gives owners, prospective customers and the media a taste of the Endeavour’s capabilities off the beaten path.
2 min read25 Mar '17
Saptarshi ShuklaSaptarshi Shukla