Training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relates to specific useful skills. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at technical colleges and polytechnics. Today it is often referred to as professional development.

Physical training is more mechanistic: planned suites of regimes develop specific skills or muscles with a view to peaking at a particular time. A specialized field of training often used in sports is autogenic training. Another type of training is fartlek training which is a flexible training type which can be adapted to suit almost any athlete.

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NYT > Automobiles

Ford to Make Broader Bet on Small Cars
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:01:59 -0000
After two decades focused on trucks, the company is about to drastically shift focus to building smaller cars.
Lodz Journal: Where Racing Is Fast and Police Aren’t Furious
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:44:21 -0000
Police officers in Lodz, Poland, have tried to deal with illegal street races by helping to organize them.
Mr. Ford’s T: Versatile Mobility
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:54:30 -0000
Nearly as significant as the Model T’s ubiquity was its knack for performing many tasks, going far beyond basic transportation.

Freep.com - RSS - Autos

Ford vows to lead in fuel economy
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:27:00 -0500
Ford Motor Co.'s president of the Americas, Mark Fields, on Tuesday said Ford would be dedicated to making its future vehicles "meet or beat the competition in fuel economy" in the face of $4-a-gallon gasoline, weak consumer confidence and plunging auto sales.
U.S. will see electric Minis in 2009
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:17:00 -0500
The U.S. car market may be moving toward Mini's kind of small, fashionable and fuel-efficient vehicles, and the British brand will be ready as it prepares to launch its first electric vehicles in the United States in 2009 and a small crossover utility vehicle not long after.
TENNESSEE HEADQUARTERS: Nissan's new green digs reflect shift toward zero-emission vehicles
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:23:00 -0500
With its new headquarters and ambitious electric vehicle plans, Nissan is going green. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Motor Co., said the numerous environmental features of the new 450,000-square-foot headquarters in Franklin, Tenn. mirror the company's effort to become a leader in zero-emission vehicles by 2012.

L.A. Times - Auto Industry News

Aston Martin, Maserati coupes two sides of the same envy-inducing coin
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A pair of evenly matched super-luxury sports cars have distinctly different personalities. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Maserati GranTurismo S are beautiful, irrelevant cars -- an evenly matched set of luxury-performance cuff links.
State considers pay-as-you-drive auto insurance
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A plan that charges motorists based on miles driven could cut fuel use, pollution and traffic as well as lower premiums, say backers. Opponents worry about privacy issues. An alliance of insurance companies and environmentalists wants to bring a new kind of mileage-based auto insurance to California and charge motorists only for the number of miles actually driven.
GM to sell assets, borrow money and cut jobs to raise up to $15 billion
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The cash-strapped automaker, facing bankruptcy rumors, says it will also suspend its dividend to increase liquidity. It expects to post a large loss in the 2nd quarter. Short on cash and facing bankruptcy rumors, General Motors Corp. said Tuesday that it would suspend its dividend, sell assets worth as much as $4 billion, borrow an additional $2 billion to $3 billion and lay off salaried workers, among other steps.

Daily automotive news and comment - from just-auto.com

LONDON SHOW: Interview with Bob Lutz
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:56:00 -0000
GM's head of product development Bob Lutz was at the London Motor Show this week to participate in the launch of the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia. just-auto's editor Dave Leggett caught up with him and heard the Lutz prognosis on GM's troubles across the Atlantic.
SPAIN: Car output unscathed by plunging domestic sales
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:41:00 -0000
Spain's car production this year will match the 2.9m units made in 2007 as rising sales in key markets Germany and France offset falls elsewhere in Europe, a spokesman for manufacturers' federation Anfac told just-auto.
LONDON SHOW: Bob Lutz cool on US diesels
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0000
As a number of European vehicle manufacturers push ahead with plans to market more diesel cars in the US market, GM's global head of product development Bob Lutz told just-auto that there are significant problems for diesel that will hold back its market penetration there.

Comments for AutoReport

Comment on Mergers Redux by Andrew Charles
Andrew Charles Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:24:11 -0000
In the years since I wrote this, there have been a number of changes, some minor, and others quite major. Going down the list: DaimlerChrysler de-merged into Daimler AG and Chrysler LLC, and sold its stake in Mitsubishi. Daimler AG retains its truck and bus brands (including Mitsubishi Fuso), and Mercedes-Benz and smart in the car group. A cross-licensing agreement with Jaguar covers the use of the Daimler name. Chrysler LLC retains the active Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler brands, and has re-affirmed its ownership of the defunct Willys brand. Hyundai has kept out of the merger game since acquiring Kia, but has added a new brand in the Korean domestic market with its Genesis luxury sedan (in other markets sold as a Hyundai). Fiat has ended its alliance with GM after extracting a hefty divorce settlement. The company's subsequent success makes this one of GM management's worst decisions in recent years. After dropping Autobianchi, last seen in the Italian domestic market, Fiat is said to be exploring a new low-cost brand. Maserati, formerly owned by Ferrari, is now allied with the group's main auto operation, now known as Fiat Group Automobiles. Ford has unwound several key acquisitions in the last few years, first selling Aston Martin Lagonda to an Anglo-Arab investment syndicate, and most recently Jaguar Land Rover to Indian automaker Tata Motors. Rumors persist that Ford is either interested in selling Volvo, or has been approached by other automakers seeking a luxury acquisition, but the company is far more integrated into the Ford organization, with common powertrains and platforms underlying every model. GM has also unwound several equity investments, although not on the scale of Daimler and Ford. Its minor interests in and alliances with Fiat, Isuzu and Subaru have been ended, and engine development centers in Germany and Japan previously controlled by GM returned to Isuzu. Its alliance with Suzuki remains, on a smaller scale, but its equity interest has been reduced. The company is now evaluating the future of the Hummer brand, acquired from AM General, and despite denials rumors persist that other brands are also being evaluated for sale or closure (fueled by an active and even malicious campaign by disaffected members of middle management). Phoenix Group, which acquired MG Rover, predictably imploded, with government investigations continuing at enormous expense into the reasons. Its assets have been divided among several parties, Chinese automakers SAIC Motor and NAC acquiring the main carmaking operations, and a scion of the Riley family acquiring MG Sport and Racing and the X80 project. The Rover brand, and associated trademarks, previously licensed from BMW, were then sold by the German company to Land Rover. As a result Tata Motors has acquired not only Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover, but also Daimler, Lanchester, Rover and Sterling. Having lost the chance to acquire Rover, SAIC established its own Roewe brand as an alternative, and subsequently acquired NAC and its NAC MG operations, including the Austin, MG, Wolseley and Austin-Healey brands. An alliance with HFI Automotive and the Healey family supports the possible revival of the latter marque. Peugeot SA has augmented its non-equity alliances with Ford in diesel engines and Fiat in commercial vehicles. It now produces small cars in co-operation with Toyota, 4-cylinder gasoline engines in alliance with BMW, and SUVs in alliance with Mitsubishi. The Panhard et Levassor operation has since been sold to military 4×4 specialist Auverland. Renault's most recent activity has been an alliance with Russian automaker AutoVaz, owner of the Lada brand. German automaker Volkswagen, after acquiring a number of other companies over the years, has most recently found itself the target of long-term partner Porsche, whose founder was responsible for the original Volkswagen prior to WWII.
Comment on Mazda Kazamai Concept to Premiere at Moscow International Automobile Salon 2008 by VW Informer
VW Informer Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:27:52 -0000
That's a really awesome concept; but I just don't see it going into production without a lot of alterations, especially given the practical considerations of a grill-less design. --- Working with VW to spread the word about the new Tiguan. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.
Comment on New Ford Focus RS On Track as First Details Confirmed by Ken MacDaniel Sr
Ken MacDaniel Sr Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:24:11 -0000
Please bring it to the US. The Mustang GT and GT 500's are great but.................................

Auto news - CNNMoney.com

GM unveils 'fuel-sipping' Camaro
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:59:30 -0400
Fuel mileage is front and center as Chevy's muscle car gets a makeover for the "green" generation.
GM, utilities team up on electric cars
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:23:32 -0400
Read full story for latest details.
2 hot cars, if you can afford the gas
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:50:23 -0400
The Dodge Challenger SRT-8 and Nissan GT-R show off their companies' performance skills. But are "halo cars" like these out-of-place today?

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