I hope it was designed by those who knew how to do it. Mercedes and VW have had too many issues with crappy engines. Poorly designed timing chain systems etc.
The VW TSI timing chain issue was manufactor error, not poor design. It was rectified from MY 2012.
Another issue was that VW wasn't very costumer friendly regarding this. It took them a very long time with a lot of complaints, before they accepted to pay outside their 2 years warranty.
Over the years, Ive watched many good companies trash their reputations by treating their customers like cr*p.
Two factors seem to be at play.
1. Accountants were allowed to venture out of their sterile offices and began to dictate public relation policy.
2. Company directors appease shareholders rather than employees and customers, knowing that two years of poor return on shares will spell the end of their career on the board.