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WE’RE all operating under tough circumstances, and it’s understandable that people make mistakes. But our investigation into Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (page 18) tests the limits of how much slack can be cut. The story begins in May 2020, when central Government created a £250million ‘active travel fund’ that councils could spend on projects to encourage people to walk or cycle, rather than drive or take public transport. Roads were often narrowed or closed by the projects, inevitably placing restrictions on motorists. But there was another catch: local authorities had to act quickly. Councils that successfully bid for the first tranche of funding had just four weeks to get building, and the works had to be completed within eight weeks on pain of the Department for Transport “clawing back” money. Invitations…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • Sales start with EQA 250, which has a 261-mile range • Faster and more efficient versions to join line-up • OFFICIAL “The sharper lines of the GLA have been softened in an effort to make the EQA cut through the air cleanly” MERCEDES has unveiled the cheapest model in its pure-electric EQ range with the all-new EQA. It will take on the likes of the electric Lexus UX as a compact and affordable electric crossover with UK sales due to start in February. Affordable is a relative term, though, because while this is the entry point in the electric EQ line-up, it’s unlikely that the car will drop below the £40,000 mark. The EQA is based on a modified version of the platform already used by the…

MARKUS SCHAFER Member of Board for R&D MARKUS Schafer is responsible for research and development at Daimler and Mercedes. He’s already working on cars you’ll be driving in five years, but here we get the inside line on his latest creation. Q Is the battery in the EQA the same as you’ll find in the larger EQC? A “It’s a next-generation battery pack that leads us to a 420km [261 mi] range and we are already committed to a further step with better chemistry that will be here by the end of the year to take us to 500km [311 mi]. We are constantly improving and going further.” Q Did you have to make any compromises because the EQA is based on a petrol/diesel platform? A “We had it planned…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods CITROEN will follow up its radical new C4 hatchback with an equally daring flagship, and we’ve spied the car testing ahead of its unveiling later in 2021. It will be a unique entry in the executive class that will rival saloons, estates and SUVs all in one go, thanks to its distinctive silhouette. Potentially reviving the C5 or C6 names, but currently known by the internal code E43, the car will become the second mainstream Citroen to be given a new lease of life in unconventional form, following the SUV-inspired C4 hatch. While Citroen has a history of large saloons, its demise can be attributed to the surge in popularity of SUVs, so taking inspiration from there could resurrect the brand’s chances in the executive segment. Last year,…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Updated hatch on sale now More options, increasedtech MINI has freshened up its core model range by introducing a facelift for its hatch, Convertible and Electric models. They all benefit from a new look and technology updates, while prices start from £16,045. The most obvious change is at the front, where MINI has increased the size of the grille, added a body-coloured strip and new black surround. Air inlets have also replaced spot lamps in the lower section of the front bumper, while the inside of the headlights is now finished in black rather than chrome. Three new exterior finishes, Rooftop Grey, Island Blue and Zesty Yellow are also available. Updates inside amount to a new 8.8-inch colour touchscreen display on the centre console, and as with the…

THERE’S another Skoda SUV on the horizon, called the Kushaq. However, this compact SUV has been developed exclusively for the Indian market – and there are no plans for the model to come to the UK. Skoda is leading the VW Group’s expansion into India – a region with a young customer base and a rapidly growing new car market. More than 1billion euros have been invested into the VW Group’s India 2.0 plan, and the Kushaq is the first of four new models to be launched in the region. Although made for India, the Kushaq is immediately identifiable as part of the wider Skoda SUV range. It features the same headlamp and grille arrangement as seen on the Karoq, and is based on a version of that car’s platform…