Mercedes AMG engine guru to join VW

The man credited with development of Mercedes-Benz AMG's latest line of high performance gasoline engines, Friedrich Eichler, has been lured to the Volkswagen Group, where he will take up an as yet unspecified position this summer, sources with knowledge of the move tell Autoweek.

Eichler, who joined AMG after working his way up through the ranks at Porsche, was instrumental in the development of AMG's naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, twin-turbocharged and naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 and twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 that powers the Pagani Huayra.

Friedrich Eichler also developed turbocharged four-cylinder engines for upcoming Mercedes AMG cars.

Eichler is also credited with AMG's upcoming turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will be used in the four-wheel-drive A45 AMG and CLA45 AMG to be revealed at the Geneva and New York auto shows, respectively. The 2.0-liter unit is claimed to develop 350 hp.

Eichler will be succeeded at AMG by Christian Enderle, who was responsible for Mercedes-Benz's latest turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine lineup.

Eichler's move to the Volkswagen Group has been masterminded by VW's new engine boss, Heinz-Jakob Neusser, with whom he previously worked under at Porsche.

By Greg Kable