Did you ever ask yourself , Why do most class 7 & 8 trucks use inline 6 cylinder diesels? Nuff Said!!!
The V-8 is only relevant for one reason - packaging. The shorter overall length and height of the v-8 suits the needs of the body design team. Not Everyone likes the tall long nose necessary to hide a I-6.
Plus, the 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton market does not place nearly the premium on torque that the heavier trucks do. They can stand to rev a little higher.
I hope Cummins does not screw this up. International did a decent job with Ford, but it was a long road filled with all kinds of issues. I hope this is a 300-400 mile engine with minimal issues
And as far as a VM diesel - ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
good luck
TonyD