The name VR6 comes from a combination of V engine (German: V-Motor), and the German word "Reihenmotor" (meaning "inline engine" or "straight engine") - and so is described as a "Vee-Inline engine" (VR-Motor).
The narrow angle between cylinders allows the use of just one cylinder head - whereas wider angle Vee engines require two separate cylinder heads, one for each cylinder bank.