TL;DR: Speaking strictly about TRD-labelled factory-built road vehicles sold as new, you're right, there aren't really any noteworthy modifications. Among those, these new TRD Pro trucks likely are the most extensively changed from their base models.

Define "noteworthy". There's been a few different supercharger kits for car v6s and 4 cylinders, no to mention the various suspension, brake, & driveline parts.

They replaced the 4.2 with the 5.0 (which I mentioned) back in 2009. Both are great engines, but the 5.0 is way more powerful (and more efficient).

Damn it, my reading comprehension skills suck. I keep reading this looking for the part about more power, but I can't find it.

How to tune a diesel:

The RX3 was, surprisingly the smaller sister to Mazda's other '70s rotary rocket, the RX2. Unlike with the 2 however, Mazda hedged their bets with the 3, selling the same car with traditional piston power as the imaginatively named 808.

I'm not normally a truck fan either, but I have a secret lust for an SRT-10 Ram. Viper V10, manual, 2wd, zero electronic assistance.

Oddly, the 2.0T/manual is only available on the top-spec "Premium" Verano... and for about the same price you could have an ATS 2.0T/manual with more power and RWD!!!

My first car was a 1985 Buick Skyhawk "T-type" with a 5-speed.

No idea, it is still ludicrous to me that Chevy didn't make it an option in the Cruze, or any other small car. I mean why throw the baby out with the bathwater?

Umm... ok some background here. The motor in the higher power Verano and Regal GS/Turbo is an incremental (mostly added E85 capability) that was sold in the 2008-2010 Wunderkind Cobalt SS. The car that beat cars at 2x and 3x the price that couldn't save the Cobalt from being axed.

This one! I'm a frighteningly young (38) Buick buyer and have the exact car pictured above. Great sleeper car with the turbo manual.

Yup Buick is holding the best Chevy small car engine hostage.

Well, not exactly a "customer," the GM public relations department obviously bought some to send to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, etc.

Prediction: the E36 is going to win this whole thing quite easily.

The dangerous smog levels that Paris had been suffering under – caused in large part by the Diesel particulates from Paris' many Diesels – was over double the safe limit, but after a single day of half the car population, it now seems under control.

nothing says "I'm a poor slob" like $70,000 of truck in your driveway.

I can verify that these cars sound better than a Merkur XR4Ti...