vw amarok was tryed and tested on blue rag track and proved to be no wimp

just read an interesting article in the august overlander and was impressed by the amarok's performance
on victorian high country and the blue rag track/ roads towing and 4wding with ordinary HT road tyres
it was unstoppable and the test crew where rater impressed by it's overall performance by what i read
which prompted me to go and have a look over one in local sales yd
i was impressed with its build quality and solid underpinnings but was somewhat surprised
when having a good look underneath discovered that the exhaust system finishes/ends with a short tailpipe from rear muffler just forward of the rear axle rather than extend all the way to tailgate/towbar

under ADR rules i always believed that the exhaust was compelled to finish at the extreme rear of the vehicle
perhaps this ADR rule has changed in recent times and imho this would give any vehicle engine a big advantage in not having to push exhaust gases all the way through to the rear tailpipe exit point as is normal

has anyone else noticed this unusual feature
i personelly haven't seen any other 4wd's set up like this
cheers barry
ps---- i have no connections with ovr mag just a reader