I don't know much about this, but have a few random thoughts to add:
- Direct injection can add low-end torque because it lets you add compression. Other than forced induction and displacement, that's all you can do for low-end torque (the "P" below).
Torque = nPV/4Pi
n = efficiency
P = Brake mean effective pressure
V = Swept volume = Piston area A x Stroke L
- Efficiency is really easy at 2000RPM. Those factory intakes, exhausts and cams that limit power at 6000RPM work fine down low. It would be interesting to see if the 6.6 ends up undersquare, i.e. a stroker, to help low end torque. In the formula it makes no difference how you "spend" your displacement, but the power band can be lowered and that's where it becomes a more valid truck engine.
- Granted, all of the technology upgrades could happen at 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2L displacements, but carmakers have been creating new displacements to distinguish different engines for several decades. If it ended up at 6 liters buyers might think it's a marginal change to the LQ4.
- Towing isn't just about weight, but also wind drag. A 6000lb camper is much harder to tow than a 6000lb truck due to the terrible aerodynamics. When the trailer is sucking 100hp all day at 70MPH, that's 100 less HP you have to pull the grades. No matter how many gears are in the transmission, if it takes 300HP to pull the grade, the engine will run in a gear that allows at least 300HP. Only a lower power band lets you pull it in higher gears.
- I feel diesel longevity is a myth in modern light-duty trucks. Sure, HD diesels can be fully rebuilt multiple times to hit 1,000,000 miles, but LD diesels can't. The body, chassis and transmission are setting the lifetime of the vehicle for gas and diesel now. Vortecs get 300,000 miles all the time and the trucks are usually pretty worn out by then. With 100,000 mile injector failures the diesels are costing more to keep on the road.


