Eric Tscherne was a Hot Wheels Designer from 1998 through 2004. He is best known for ushering in many of the import tuner type cars, as well as, realistic original designs like Muscle Tone, 40 Somethin' and Switchback. The realistically styled originals and the theme of revisiting past cars were both something he believed in and help make a staple of the line. Other designers continue to follow in this tradition.
Tscherne also is remembered for creating the Hot Tunerz line which lead to many of the 'Tooned, Fatbax and the poorly received Hardnosed styled cars. Tscherne went on to design cars and toys for Jada Toys (Chub City) and created the JL Full Throttle line, featuring Designs from Chip Foose, as well as overhauling the Johnny Lightning brand's look creating it's current retro-cool theme for RC2/Learning Curve.