1. Number of cylinders is mostly just a number today. The higher the cylinder count, the higher the $cost.
2. Todays Overhead cam and variable valve timing (VVT) engines add height to vertically aligned engines. Added height raises the hood and detracts from visibility. V-aligned engines allow for lower hoods and better visibility.
Is this an upright 6 or a slant 6 like Dodge made long ago?