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shifting gears

Visitors take photos of a Lincoln MKX SUV concept car at Auto China 2014 in Beijing April 20, 2014.JASON LEE/Reuters

Lincoln is a brand as American as apple pie. So it speaks to the importance of the emerging Chinese market that Ford chose to reveal the Lincoln MKX Concept at the Beijing auto show instead of the New York International Auto Show.

It's the first time Lincoln has unveiled a concept car outside North America, Ford said in a press release. The current production version of the MKX is built in Oakville, Ont., and Ford announced that the next-generation MKX will also be built there. The new SUV will be the third of four new Lincolns coming to market by 2016, after the MKZ sedan and the MKC crossover.

Audi A3 World Car of the Year

The Audi A3 was crowned World Car of the Year last week at the New York auto show, completing a German sweep of all five awards. The Porsche 911 GT3 was named World Performance Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class won the World Luxury Car award and BMW's electric i3 took home two titles: it was named World Green Car of the Year and also won the World Car of the Year Design award.

Canada's top 'green machines'

And then there were six. Judges for the 2014 Canadian Green Car Award have picked the winners in five categories (there was a tie) and will announce the overall "green" champ Friday morning at the Green Living Show in Toronto. The finalists are (drum roll, please) the Nissan Leaf (battery-electric), Ford C-Max Energi (plug-in hybrid), Honda Accord Hybrid and Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid (hybrid), Mazda3 2.0-litre (efficient internal combustion) and the Mazda5 (efficient three-row family vehicle).

It pays to work at Ferrari

Citing record profits, exotic auto maker Ferrari has handed its 3,000-strong work force bonuses of €4,096 ($6,233), according to various news services. That's nothing to scoff at. However, The Telegraph was quick to point out that the bonus won't even buy an employee some of the cheapest options available for the company's vehicles. For example, a leather luggage set for the trunk costs €4,728 ($7,203) while carbon trim for door panels and handles is €4,308 ($6,563).

Quoted

"If you don't like this car, you don't like cars."

Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford, after unveiling a limited edition Mustang to celebrate the pony car's 50th anniversary. Ford will build only 1,964 of the 50 Year Limited Edition model, paying homage to the year when the Mustang first went on sale.

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