If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

The Accent was and is the smallest and most affordable car in Hyundai’s lineup. The sub-compact was introduced in early 1995 as a replacement for the Excel. It was completely redesigned for the 2000 model year and received a minor facelift for 2003 at which point it was given a 105-horsepower engine. The 2006-’11 Accent’s chief claims to fame was its affordability combined with excellent fuel efficiency. These cars were among the least expensive available, yet still managed to look and feel up-to-date.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

This General Motors’ subcompact entry first arrived in North America for the 2004 model year, stepping in where the Geo Metro that had been phased out four years earlier. Korea-based Daewoo Motors – of which GM owned a stake – built both cars. The Aveo was available as a four-door sedan and as a hatchback model called the Aveo 5. Updated for the 2007 model year, engine size grew to 1.6 liters. Initially rated at 103 horsepower, it was uprated to 106 in ’09 and 108 for the 2010 model year. All models were matched to five-speed manual transmissions or optional four-speed automatics. The Aveo 5 received new sheetmetal for 2009 and both versions were replaced by the U.S.-made Chevrolet Sonic for the 2012 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Land Rover added the Range Rover Sport to its lineup for the 2006 model year. Although it looked similar to the top-level Range Rover, the Sport was actually based on the smaller LR3 (later LR4) model and was a few inches shorter than its senior stable mate. Initial versions used a 300-horsepower 4.4-liter V8, but a 390-horsepower supercharged 4.2-liter V8 was optional. A 2010 refresh included a new 375-horsepower 5.0-liter base V8 and an optional supercharged 5.0 was rated at 510 horses. All powerplants received six-speed automatic transmissions. Other than a few minor updates, the Range Rover Sport remained unchanged until an all-new model arrived for 2014.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Jaguar’s flagship sedan has been in service since 1969 and has received regular styling updates every few years since then. For 1998, the vehicle’s inline six-cylinder engine was replaced by a 290-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 that was installed inside a heavily revised platform and body. The XJ was available in regular- and extended-length models plus the premium Vanden Plas (extended length) and high-performance regular-length XJR. A new and more powerful seventh-generation XJ line was introduced for 2004 with naturally aspirated and supercharged V8 engines, the latter in the XJR. The stretched-by-five-inches Vanden Plas and Super versions arrived a year later, followed by the top-level Portfolio. Jaguar continued to introduce special XJ editions each year until an all-new platform was launched for the 2010 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Developed in concert with the Chevrolet Silverado, the Sierra is essentially the same truck, with the exception of the more luxurious Sierra Denali. Both the Silverado and the Sierra replaced the C/K 1500 (1/2-ton) series for the 1999 model year and continue to be General Motors’ most popular vehicles. The Sierra was updated for 2003 and again in 2007 on an all-new chassis. Engine choices consisted of a 195-horsepower 4.3-liter V6 plus 295-, 315-, 367- and 403-horsepower V8s (the latter was standard for the Denali). For 2009, a gas-electric Hybrid made a combined 332 horsepower. A four-speed automatic was the sole transmission choice for V6, 4.8-,5.3 and 6.0-liter V8 Sierras, but a six-speed automatic was included with 403-horse V8. An all-new Sierra lineup was introduced for the 2014 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Corvette afficionados refer to these cars by generation, based on their platforms. The sixth-generation ‘Vette, referred to as the C6, was launched in 2004 with significant upgrades over the C5, especially under the hood. The 6.0-liter engine produced 400 horsepower, while the wide-body Z06 variant introduced for 2006 made 505 horses from a highly specialized 7.0-liter V8. A 430-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 became the base engine for 2008, a year before the supercharged 638-horsepower ZR1 coupe joined the fun. Other models included the wide-body Grand Sport and the convertible only Corvette 427, which used the Z06 engine. After nine seasons, an all-new C7 ‘Vette arrived for the 2014 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Nissan’s entry nameplate joined the slightly larger Sentra sedan as the automaker’s two small-car models. Initially, both sedan and wagon body styles used the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that made 122 horsepower. However, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 107 horses came in a new base sedan for 2009. Three transmissions were initially available, including a six-speed manual, an optional four-speed automatic and a continuously variable unit that used a variable pulley system in place of a standard gearset. Both Versas received a modest restyling for 2010. A completely new Versa sedan replaced the original for 2012, while the Versa Note replaced the first-generation Versa wagon for the 2014 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

The Cayman arrived for 2006 as a fixed-roof version of the Boxster convertible, however Porsche did a credible job of distinguishing the coupe from its roadster relation. The 245-horsepower 2.7-liter six-cylinder Cayman was joined by the 275-horsepower 3.4-liter Cayman S for 2007. For 2010, a 265-horse 2.9-liter six-cylinder was installed in the Cayman, while the S’s output was upped to 320 ponies. At the same time the optional five-speed automatic transmission was exchanged for a new seven-speed automated manual unit (a six-speed manual was standard). A 330-horsepower Cayman R was added to the lineup for 2012, just before an all-new model was launched in 2013 for the 2014 model year (there was no 2013 Cayman).

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Spun from General Motors’ full-size pickup and sport utility lines for 2002, the six-passenger four-door Avalanche offered features previously unseen in both categories. The most prominent was called a “Midgate” that extended the cargo area by folding the rear seats, removing the back window and lowering the divider separating the box from the cabin. A removable three-piece hard tonneau provided security for the bed and its contents. Second-generation Avalanches arrived for the 2007 model year with a 5.3-liter V8 or an optional 6.0 that was dropped for 2010. Other than installing a two-speed transfer case (with a low range for off-roading) to the 4×4 versions for 2011, the Avalanche stayed unchanged until production ended after the 2013 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Mazda’s mid-size sedan arrived for the 2004 model year as the replacement for the long-serving 626 series. The “6” was originally offered as a sedan, but a hatchback was added part way into its second season followed by the Sport Wagon for 2005. An all-new sedan replaced the original Mazda6 for the 2009 model year and carried a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder or an optional 272-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. A six-speed manual transmission as well as a five-speed automatic were available in four-cylinder models, while a six-speed automatic came standard with V6. After five years with very little in the way of updates, a brand new Mazda6 arrived for the 2014 model year.

 Please contact us to order this feature.