Downloadable 2017 Ford Escape Brochure

PEKIN, Ill., – Are you looking for a new crossover vehicle? Be sure to take a look at the 2017 Ford Escape electronic brochure. You can learn about Ford's compact crossover and its great features, and decide if it's the vehicle for you! For photos and performance specifications, download the 2017 Ford Escape brochure!

Downloadable 2017 Ford Escape Brochure

Read all you need to know about the latest Ford Escape when you download the electronic brochure from Velde Ford! With its EcoBoost engine, SYNC 3 connectivity, and multiple safety features, you'll see why this versatile crossover vehicle is perfect for you by downloading the 2017 Ford Escape brochure!

Available in multiple trim levels, Ford's compact crossover will take you where you need to go! To find out more information about feature details, photos, and vehicle specs, be sure to read the downloadable 2017 Ford Escape Brochure on our website!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. Schedule a test drive of a 2017 Ford Escape, or let us show you our other latest Ford models.We want you to enjoy your car buying experience and we want you to leave feeling confident in your buying or leasing decision. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Combat the Cold with the 2017 Ford Escape

PEKIN, Ill., – The frigid temperatures of winter can sometimes feel debilitating. You know you would rather stay cozy and warm inside than go get into a cold car to head to work. But what if the car wasn't cold and the only time your skin had to touch the freezing air was on the short walk from your door to your vehicle? Thanks to the Ford Extreme Climate Team, these fantasies could be your reality. Combat the cold this winter with the 2017 Ford Escape!

When the polar vortex gripped much of North America in the winter of 2013-2014, it became apparent that new technologies would need to be developed if Ford was going to keep their customers happy and warm. The Ford Extreme Climate Team, which conducts research on driving habits of inhabitants of many extreme climate regions, hosted a customer clinic in northern Canada to listen to what consumers wanted. The outcome was overwhelmingly "Heat everything" and so the team got to work to bring warmth to drivers everywhere.

The result of their research is apparent in the cold weather technology available on the 2017 Ford Escape. Available features include:

• Heated steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Heated side mirrors
• All-weather floor mats
• Windshield wiper de-icer (works in under 10 minutes!)

In addition to these luxurious features, the 2017 Ford Escape is also compatible with the FordPass app, which allows drivers to remotely start their vehicle using ForD SYNC Connect technology. The app gives drivers the capability to not only start their engine, but control the features mentioned above.

With the majority of winter still ahead of us, you may want to consider how you could combat the cold with a 2017 Ford Escape from Velde Ford Pekin. Check out our inventory to find the model that's right for you, or take a look at our Ford Crossover Comparison page to help you choose a vehicle. Feel free to stop by the dealership if you have any questions or need help picking out a new vehicle this winter! 

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Ford Motor Company Collaborates with Girl Scouts of America

PEKIN, Ill., – Ford Motor Company's new collaboration with Girl Scouts Councils is creating encouraging atmospheres for young girls to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math related fields (STEAM). By introducing elementary school students to the Girls Fast Track Race program, collaborators feel it will provide girls with a creative environment to learn about high tech fields of study.

Four Girl Scouts Councils, Tropical Florida, Southeastern Michigan, Northeast Texas, and Northern New Jersey, have partnered with Ford, and participated in the Girls Fast Track Race program. The program provides a hands-on learning experience for 200 girls from each district, allowing them to learn about the automotive engineering industry, and build their own track race cars.

Ford's commitment to STEAM education corresponds with their desire to inspire and educate young students. This collaboration is just one of the many programs now being offered through www.fordsteamexperience.com. Visit the website to learn more about programs near you!

“We believe that all young children have an aptitude for technical subjects – what’s often lacking is the encouragement and additional support to succeed,” Tracy Magee, Ford primary brand experiential manager said. “Ford is deeply committed to education and through creative programs such as the Girls’ Fast Track Races, we hope to spark excitement among the youth and inspire them to pursue future careers in high-tech fields.”

Ford Motor Company's collaboration with Girl Scouts Councils across America and their ongoing effort to promote STEAM related education is exciting and important for our youngest generation. With help and encouragement from Ford, these young students will be inspired to pursue high-tech career paths. At Velde Ford Pekin, we think this partnership is a great testimony to Ford's commitment to bettering our communities. 

Don't Forget to enter for your chance to win a 2 year lease on a 2017 Ford Escape! The winner will be announced this Saturday, September 24th! 

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Ford Motor Company Global Caring Month

PEKIN, Ill., – This September, Ford Motor Company will participate in Global Caring Month. As a part of the month’s community service projects, the Thailand Clean Water Community Project will be put into action as the winner of the Bill Ford Better World Challenge for a $200,000 grant.

Chanthaburi, a town that maintains a school and serves 3,300 residents, will have its water system rebuilt by a group of Ford volunteers. They plan to repair water storage tanks and install purifiers to give the people of the town access to fresh clean water. They will also install new sinks and restroom fixtures and the new water system will help irrigate crops and gardens.

In addition to the Thailand Clean Water Community Project, 20,000 Ford volunteers will complete hundreds of projects all over the world. Some of these projects include:

Renovating a school in Angola
Repairing a nursery, daycare, and library for children in Brazil
Assisting a food bank in Columbia
Improving and modernizing a mental health facility in the United Kingdom
Renovating a home for senior citizens in India

These are just few of the many global projects that will be completed this month. They will continue to contribute to the more than 1 million hours of community service that has been performed by Ford Volunteer Corps since 2005 when the program began. As well as service projects, Ford Fund will also be increasing its financial contributions during Global Caring Month.

Ford Motor Company Global Caring Month provides necessary relief to those in need all over the world. For more information about Ford Volunteer Corps and ways to get involved, visit www.volunteer.ford.com. Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a 2 year lease on a 2017 Ford Escape from Velde Ford Pekin! As part of our 60th Anniversary Celebration, we want to do something fun for our community! You can enter online!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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5 Locations to Visit on Labor Day Weekend

PEKIN, Ill., – It’s almost time to celebrate the unofficial end of summer. For most, Labor Day represents the coming of fall weather, the start of school, and one last chance to hang out at the lake. This Labor Day, take advantage of the nice weather and your last chance for a summer getaway and try planning a short trip to one of these 5 locations to visit on Labor Day weekend.

Starved Rock State Park

Just about 70 miles northeast of Pekin, is Starved Rock State Park. Packed with beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife, this park is the perfect weekend destination. You can rent paddle boats on the Illinois River and take guided hikes along the park trails.

Evanston, Illinois

If you’re up for a little further excursion and you’d like to get your feet wet in Lake Michigan, make the 180-mile trek just north of Chicago. In Evanston you’ll find beaches, lighthouses, and B&Bs for a leisurely weekend getaway.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

About a 3-hour drive north of Pekin you’ll find Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Spend the weekend lounging on the beach or shopping and eating in town. You can take a boat tour or walk along the Geneva Lake Shore Path!

Apple River Canyon, Illinois

This state park lies just 7 miles outside of the better-known town of Galena. It offers beautiful hiking trails and tons of wildlife. If you like to fish, this is the place to visit! This quiet refuge will provide some R&R this Labor Day weekend.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Go for a bike ride or a hike through the 29,000 acres of open prairie in Midewin. If you’re interested in gardening or flowers you can visit the Seed Nursery. This unique location is a fun Labor Day destination, just 120 miles northeast of Pekin.

If you’re wondering what to do with your day off this holiday, take a trip to one of these 5 locations to visit on Labor Day weekend! If you're looking for more Illinois travel ideas, check out our Pinterest! We have tons of travel destinations on our Illinois and Travel boards! When you get home, be sure to enter to win a 2 year lease on a 2017 Ford Escape during Velde’s 60th Anniversary Celebration! Take all the adventures you can imagine in Ford’s compact crossover!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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5 Ice Cream Treats to Make at Home

PEKIN, Ill., – Has there ever been a better time than the middle of the summer to talk about ice cream? Illinois is hot, and ice cream is cold. Need we say more? Check out these 5 ice cream treats to make at home, and treat yourself and your family to a cool dessert or snack!

1. Ice Cream Sandwich

If you want a simple homemade ice cream novelty, try this take on a classic and make your own ice cream sandwiches. Get as creative as you want with it. Make your cookies from scratch or buy your favorites at the store. Experiment with toppings and flavors, or try this recipe for instructions.

2. Frozen Ice Cream S’mores

This twist on a summertime favorite is sure to be a hit. All you really need is some graham crackers, ice cream, marshmallow fluff, and chocolate. But if you want a fun recipe, try this one.

3. Nutella Cool Whip Popsicles

All you need for these sweet frozen snacks is milk, nutella, and cool whip. Follow this recipe for the right proportions. You’ll also need popsicle molds to freeze your treats. 

4. Ice Cream Cupcakes

You could definitely alter this recipe to your liking, but these ice cream cupcakes are a good starting point. Try a different flavor of ice cream or a different type of cookie to personalize your cupcakes!

5. Ice Cream Tacos

At first glance, these might seem complicated but this recipe is surprisingly simple. Try filling them with different flavors and using different toppings for more variety!

Hopefully these 5 ice cream treats to make at home inspire you to make your own cool desserts! If not, maybe they’ll inspire you to go to the ice cream shop! Get creative and cool off in this heat! Don’t forget to head over to Velde Ford, or VeldeFordPekin.com to enter our vehicle giveaway contest! Since Velde Ford is turning 60, we’re giving away a 2 year lease on a 2017 Ford Escape! Entry is free so go sign up!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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2017 Ford Escape Vehicle Giveaway at Velde Ford

PEKIN, Ill., – Velde Ford is turning 60 and we want your help to celebrate! As a thank you to all of our loyal customers, family, and friends who have helped us throughout the years, we’re giving away a car! Enter to win the 2017 Ford Escape Vehicle Giveaway at Velde Ford!

To enter, you must be 21 years of age and live in the state of Illinois. All you have to do is fill out the form on our website or stop by the dealership. As well as a 2 year lease on the 2017 Ford Escape, the winner will also receive a 24 month maintenance plan. The winner will be announced on September 24, 2017 at 3:00 PM. You must be present at the drawing in order to win, so don’t miss out!

We’re pretty excited that Velde Ford is celebrating its 60th anniversary and we’re happy to offer our valued customers the chance to win our 2017 Ford Escape Giveaway at Velde Ford. Remember, there’s no purchase necessary to win and all you have to do is fill out the form online! Thanks for 60 years of awesome business!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Escape the Room – Ford Edition

PEKIN, Ill., – The popular interactive game experience Escape the Room has partnered with Ford to create the largest game concept of its type. Escape the Room – Ford Edition, or Escape NYC was compiled by a partnership trifecta: Ford, Escape the Room designer Victor Blake, and the I LOVE NEW YORK campaign.

Escape the Room is an interactive game experience that involves players and their ability to solve puzzles, clues, and find hidden objects in order to escape the room they are seemingly trapped in. This weekend, June 23-26, competitors will participate in the largest Escape the Room experience yet, complete with the first drivable experience of its type.

Housed in midtown Manhattan’s Moynihan Station, the game will take up 35,000 square feet. We think the coolest part, is the incorporation of the 2017 Ford Escape and all of its latest technology features. Although the game experience itself is kept top secret, we do know that Escape NYC uses SYNC AppLink, SYNC 3, and SYNC Connect features, as well as some safety features like the collision warning, park assist, and rearview camera.

As well as the integration of the 2017 Ford Escape and it’s awesome features, the I LOVE NEW YORK campaign aims to raise awareness and bring light to some lesser known destinations in New York.

So what do you think? Would you try to Escape the Room – Ford Edition? If you’d like to try out a 2017 Ford Escape without all the pressure of an interactive game experience, you can come down to Velde Ford in Pekin and test-drive one for yourself! Call us at (888) 221-2804. We would love to tell you all about the latest technologies and safety features offered on any of the Ford Vehicles.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Ford’s New Windshield Wiper De-Icer

PEKIN, Ill. – Winter is coming to a close, but we’re already looking forward to next year with Ford’s new windshield wiper de-icer.

People of central Illinois, and anywhere else that deals with harsh winters, can rejoice! You will never have to scrape the ice and snow off your windshield again thanks to Ford’s new windshield de-icer. Ford customers will be able to enjoy the new de-icer in the 2017 Escape; coming standard in the Titanium models and optional in the SE models. This is all part of a Cold Weather Package that Ford is offering to only 2017 Escape customers.

Other features coming in the Escape Cold Weather Package:

• Heated Seats
• Floor mats that are all-weather
• Supplemental powertrain conditioning heater
• Heated side mirrors

Excited to offer this new feature to Ford customers, Ford Engineer Jennifer Gauthier says, “The windshield wiper de-icer is a great solution to one of the more nagging problems of winter. Escape drivers in the U.S. are going to wonder how they ever got along without it.”

The de-icer is built much like your rear-window defrosters. The bottom of the windshield will have a heating mechanism that will melt the ice and snow. This heating element will also help keep your wipers from freezing and sticking to the windshield. Overall, the snow cleaning process will be made much easier for Ford Escape drivers.

An added bonus is that the new windshield de-icer can be used with SYNC Connect. SYNC Connect and FordPass make your smartphone and vehicle compatible with each other, so as long as you have the FordPass app on your phone, you can switch on the de-icer from your smartphone with just the push of a button. If your daily routine is generally the same, you can even schedule a time for it to start up so you can get on the road as soon as you’re ready! The 2017 Ford will be coming to dealerships this spring. You can also look forward to Ford putting the windshield de-icer in other Ford vehicles down the road. 

It’s time to gear up for spring at Velde Ford. Head on over to our service FAQ page to learn about the routine maintenance your vehicle needs. If you’re overdue for a service, schedule an appointment with our service experts online or call (888) 221-2804.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram