Currently reading: Autocar confidential: Production VW Atlas Tanoak under consideration, Audi’s hidden exhausts & more
Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up this week's gossip from across the automotive industry

This week's snippets of automotive news include news on a production VW Atlas Tanoak, choosing car options, Audi’s hidden exhausts and Dacia on larger SUVs.

Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak pick-up:

Volkswagen still hasn’t decided whether to make a production version of the Atlas Tanoak pick-up concept it showed at this year’s New York motor show. Hinrich Woebcken, VW’s US boss, said: “It fits the brand well, because we want to get more American in the US, but it’s something we have to look at carefully. It’s a very patriotic segment, which American manufacturers dominate.”

Choosing car options:

German buyers are the most demanding when it comes to being able to pick options on a car, according to Skoda sales and marketing boss Alain Favey. He said: “German customers want the full menu. They want to be able to choose every part of a car. The UK is more streamlined.”

Hidden exhausts:

Audi’s decision to hide the exhausts on all but the sportiest versions of its new A1 is a sign of changing tastes, according to exterior designer Jürgen Löffler. He told Autocar that adding exhausts wouldn’t “work with the lines” of his new car’s design. The previous version had visible exhaust tips on every model.

Dacia on larger SUVs:

Dacia has no plans to follow the industry’s trend towards larger SUVs, according to UK brand boss Louise O’Sullivan. The higher price of large SUVs would not fit within Dacia’s target, said O’Sullivan.

Read more 

2018 Audi A1 revealed with racy new look and advanced cabin tech

New Dacia Duster starts from £9995

Volkswagen shows Atlas Tanoak pick-up concept

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