I have taken some very close looks at the new 2.8L Dmax in the Colorado/Canyon platform and it is so strikingly similar to the VM 2.8L diesel that was in my 2006 Jeep Liberty it is hard for all but the most savvy engine person to tell the difference. Same wet sleeved cast iron block with aluminum head with DOHC, same timing belt, same water cooled EGR setup. The only difference seems to be a Honeywell VG turbo instead of a Garrett VG turbo in the VM, a little more rail pressure, a slight change in compression ratio. And of course, the downstream SCR DPF stuff.
GM owned 50% of VM until they sold their share in 2013. The 2.8L Dmax was already in development, and had made its way into some GM vehicles outside the U.S. The 2.8L Dmax is based on the VM 2.8L, which is a solid motor.