First Shelby GT350 Mustang to be Sold at Barrett Jackson Auction

PEKIN, Illi. - Ford Motor Company will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the infamous Shelby GT350 Mustang at the Barrett-Jackson Auction on Saturday, January 17th in Scottsdale, Arizona. In light of five successful decades, the first Shelby GT350 Mustang will be sold at the auction with all proceeds benefiting JDRF.

The very first retail production unit of the Shelby GT350 will go home with the winning bidder; customized with the package and color of their choice. Not only will the winner be taking home this world-class vehicle, but they will also be making a major contribution to the country's leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Ford Motor Company has been a supporter of JDRF since 1983 and will show their appreciation for the donation by having team members involved in the Shelby GT350's design and development sign the pony car. 

Next month, the first Shelby GT350 Mustang will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction and will offer one lucky driver a whole new experience behind the wheel. To create the Shelby GT350, Ford took the best Mustang yet and primped every aspect of the car that contributes to the performance driving experience. The Shelby is powered by Ford's very first V8 5.2-liter engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, a design that is typically reserved for racing applications and exotic European sports cars. This engine puts out more than 500 horsepower and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most robust and naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever!

Along with the auction of the all-new Shelby GT350 Mustang, Ford will also be sponsoring a ride-and-drive at the event with a full lineup of 2015 vehicles. Not only will attendees have the opportunity to take the new Mustang, Expedition, and F-150 for a spin, but they will also be offered a "hot lap" experience with professional drivers in the Shelby American-built GT500 Super Snake and the Shelby Focus ST!

If you've got a need for speed, check out the 2014 Ford Mustang at Velde Ford! At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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2015 Cadillac CTS Earns 5-Star Safety Rating from NHTSA

PEKIN, Illi. - Crafted from pure excellence, not a single detail of the 2015 Cadillac CTS was overlooked by designers and engineers. From its signature LED lighting to an ultra-high-strength steel foundation, the 2015 CTS provides customers with new characteristics and options that enhance their overall experience out on the road. With all of these exciting additions, Cadillac was sure to put a great deal of their focus on equipping the CTS with top notch safety features. 

Cadillac's attention to detail certainly paid off because the 2015 Cadillac CTS earned a 5-star safety rating from NHTSA! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave Cadillac's rear and all-wheel drive CTS models perfect five star scores in the front, side, and rollover crash tests. How did the 2015 Cadillac CTS do it? All thanks to its traction control, anti-lock brake systems, 10 standard airbags, and optional Driver Awareness package with Lane Change Alert and Lane Keep Assist. 

Safe, stylish, and reliable, the Cadillac brand offers everything a driver could ever need out on the road. You can get behind the wheel of your very own Cadillac with help from Velde Cadillac Buick GMC! At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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Ford SYNC® 3 Enhances How Customers Stay Connected on the Road

PEKIN, Illi. - Last week, Ford Motor Company introduced SYNC® 3 to the world - a faster, more intuitive, and easier to use communication and entertainment system. Ford SYNC® 3 Enhances How Customers Stay Connected on the Road by providing drivers with more conversational voice recognition technology, a smartphone-like touch screen, and easy-to-read graphics.

Ford took a customer-centric approach when developing the SYNC 3 system. After sifting through 22,000 customer comments and suggestions, insights from research clinics, market surveys, and tech industry benchmarking, Ford Motor Company was able to rebuild a system that improves connectivity and gives customers what they want most.

While SYNC 3 is intended for hands-free use, the all-new touch screen provides customers with a similar experience to that of a smartphone or tablet. The screen now has a quicker response to touch, voice commands, and smartphone-like gestures like pinch-to-zoom and swipe. SYNC 3 has reduced on-screen complexity and itemized the control options that drivers use the most - Navigation, Audio, and Phone. Not only does reducing the amount of things on the screen make control easier, it also reduces the number of times a driver will need to glance at the screen.

The next-generation system has also mitigated the voice command process for users. When using SYNC 3, users can simply say something as vague as "play <song, artist, or album>" and the system automatically prompts to play that song, artist, or album. SYNC 3 is also equipped to better understand how consumers refer to businesses and points of interest. Drivers do not have to know the exact name; they can simply search "Detroit Airport" rather than using the official name "Detroit Metropolitan Airport".

Ford SYNC® 3 Enhances How Customers Stay Connected on the Road by improving the way customers connect their smartphones to their vehicle. AppLink is now faster and more responsive than ever before, making it easier for drivers to access their apps. All in all, SYNC 3's enhancements will make for a top-notch, user-friendly experience for Ford customers.

SYNC 3 will begin to arrive on new vehicles next year! If you can barely wait to take advantage of all that Ford SYNC has to offer, stop by Velde Ford and check out the 2015 Ford Fiesta or 2015 Ford Taurus. At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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Recent Testing Shows Ford EcoBoost Police Interceptor Remains as the Top Performer

PEKIN, Illi. - The best-selling police vehicle since 1996 lives on and continued to blow its competitors out of the water during recent accelerating testings conducted by both the Michigan State Police and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The EcoBoost®-powered interceptor took all of its contenders by storm, out-accelerating every one of the all-new V8-equipped utility and base V6-powered sedans. 

Recent testing has shown that the 2015 Ford EcoBoost Police Interceptor remains as the top performer in its segment. After being tested by the Michigan State Police, the all-wheel drive 2015 Ford Police Interceptor proved to be the fastest of the fast. The sedan posted a 0-60 mph time of 5.85 seconds, compared to the 6.31 seconds for the another 5.7-liter V8 sedan with all-wheel drive. Ford's 2015 Police Interceptor also beat a competing 6.0-liter V8-equipped sedan, reaching 0-60 mph in only 6.17 seconds.

If you can believe it, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department testing results were even more dominate! Even after the department conducted testing with a "key on and drive" policy for the first time - which means the stability and traction control settings were in default mode just as when the vehicles are initially turned on - the Ford Interceptor came out on top. The sedan repeatedly earned the quickest-accelerating results, reaching 0-60 mph in only 5.9 seconds. Ford's Interceptor not only smoked its competition, but even beat all of the V6-powered base model sedans.

After 17 consecutive years of segment sales leadership and recent testing showing the 2015 Ford EcoBoost Police Interceptor remains as the top performer, we can only assume that the sedan will continue to be a leader in the market.

You too can get behind the wheel of one of the best vehicles in the industry! From the 2014 Ford Edge to the 2015 Ford Explorer, there is something for everyone at Velde Ford. At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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HUGE Savings on 2014 Cadillacs at Velde Cadillac Buick GMC!

PEKIN, Illi. - You've heard about them, read about them, and dreamed about them. Cadillac's 2014 lineup has been nothing short of spectacular and now with the final weeks of the year upon us, we thought it was only appropriate to help you end the year in a BIG way. This month we are offering HUGE savings on 2014 Cadillacs at Velde Cadillac Buick GMC!

If you have had thoughts about getting behind the wheel of the 2014 Cadillac CTS, ATS, or XTS, now is the time to do it! Each of these models feature a striking design both inside and out and contain some of the most advanced technology to enhance your overall safety, convenience, and entertainment. By offering customers an exhilarating performance level and three top-notch powertrain options, the Cadillac CTS, ATS, and XTS have undoubtably taken the benchmark for luxury sport sedans to an entirely new level. 

If you are ready to take advantage of the HUGE savings on 2014 Cadillacs at Velde Cadillac Buick GMC, start shopping from the comfort of your own home by viewing our inventory at VeldeGM.com. 

At Velde Autos, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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Is Your Vehicle Winter Ready?

PEKIN, Illi. - Alright, so we technically haven't had our "first day of winter" just yet. However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't prepare ourselves AND our vehicles, right? We have had a taste of the snow and the cold already, but before we completely dive into the brutal months that lie ahead, we have to ensure that our vehicles are primped, packed, and ready to go!

Now we have to ask, is your vehicle winter ready? If not, don't stress! We have a great checklist for you to use to prepare for anything that Old Man Winter may have in store ––

• Purchase new windshield wiper blades and refill your washer fluid. Your windshield is prone to ice, snow, and slush during this time of the year. Keep your vehicle at its best and you'll have a crystal clear view!

• Line the floor of your vehicle with rubber mats. Not only will they keep moisture out of your carpet, but they help to prevent those terrible white salt stains. 

• Check those lights. Alright, so this may seem like common sense, but many times this tends to slip people's minds. Since our days are getting shorter (and darker), ensure that all of your lights are in prime condition and working properly.

• Really, we are not trying to be pessimistic, but this time of the year we all need to look at the tank as half empty. Below zero temperatures and a low fuel tank are not a good mix and can cause your gas tank to freeze up! No one wants to run out of fuel in the dead of winter, do they?

• So if you do happen to forget our previous tip and you end up stranded out in the cold, we suggest that you keep a Winter Safety Kit in your vehicle at all times. This should include things like a first-aid kit, a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, non-perishable snacks like granola bars, booster cables, and a windshield scraper.

• You can also keep your vehicle winter ready by taking it in for regular routine maintenance at the Velde Ford or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC Service Center. With the help of our technicians, your vehicle will continue to run at its best all winter long! 

At Velde Autos, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram