2018 Ford F-150 Receives Improvements

PEKIN, Ill.,–– For the past 40 years, the Ford F-150 has been the best selling pickup truck in the United States. This year, the F-150 hopes to retain that title with improved engine power and transmission, as well as a higher fuel economy. This year, the 2018 Ford F-150 receives improvements, including upgraded trim levels and better towing. Discover the F-150's innovative improvements and find out how this powerful pickup is now stronger than ever before.

The new 2018 F-150 has been redesigned with customization in mind. With five engine choices, three cabin sizes, up to five trim levels, and two drive types, you'll be able to find an F-150 that matches your needs. Automatic start-stop engine technology is standard on every new F-150 model, a segment-first in its vehicle class. This heavy-duty pickup matches its new and improved features with a fresh makeover, too. The 2018 F-150 is equipped with a new front grille and headlights, 18-22 inch wheels, and a wide variety of different styles for every trim level.

Improving on previous models, the new Ford F-150 also receives significant upticks in performance, gas mileage, and horsepower. A 3.5-liter EcoBoost F-150 can achieve up to 13,200 lbs of towing capacity and up to 26 MPG highway. The new engine also produces 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque, an increase of 8 horsepower and 12 lb-ft. of torque from last year's model. The F-150 achieves the best in-class towing, payload, class-exclusive Smart Towing, and a high-strength military-grade aluminum-alloy body, weighing up to 700 lbs less than last year's model with no loss to its impressive power.

The new 2018 Ford F-150 receives improvements on its performance, mileage, and customization options. Choose from a variety of customizable features to add a personal touch to your new F-150 and hit the road in style with this award-winning pickup's versatility. No matter your vehicle needs, the F-150's various model options allow you to find the perfect pickup for your lifestyle! If you want to get behind the wheel of one of these incredibly powerful pickups, schedule a test drive with us today! Take a look at our F-150 inventory to see what we currently have in stock. You can find reviews, pricing, features, and more on each vehicle's individual page.

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 Raptor Named Most Extreme Vehicle

PEKIN, Ill.,–– According to Merriam-Webster, "extreme" means "reaching a high or the highest degree; very great." Words like powerful and efficient are typically used to describe pickup trucks, but rarely is the word extreme used without proper evidence to back that claim. This last week, Business Insider took the Ford Raptor out for a spin, naming it the most extreme vehicle of its kind. The Ford Raptor was named the most extreme vehicle due to its durability, powerful engine, and versatile on and off-road capabilities.

The Ford Raptor is equipped with a suite of standout features that supports its claim to fame as the most extreme vehicle of its kind. In 5.3 seconds, its powerful 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine can go from 0-60mph, barely breaking a sweat. Its 510 pound-feet of torque allows it to tow up to 8,000 lbs without much effort, and its large cabin allows you to fit up to five adults, with plenty of room for everyone. Big wheels, big shocks, and big emblems allow the Ford Raptor to stand out on the road. 

The truck was, surprisingly, a perfectly comfortable cruiser. Just looking at the massive, deeply treaded tires, you'd think that wouldn't be possible, but in fact, all that travel in the shocks give the Raptor a reasonably smooth ride, even thought that's 100% not what it wants to be doing. Throw in some pleasing tunes from both SiriusXM radio and the iPhone library, as well as a bit of streaming via Bluetooth and USB, and you have yourself a pleasant drive.

Obviously, with that powerful, torque-y motor, if you want to get on it a bit, the Raptor delivers. It's fun to pour on the power with a Ford Super Duty pickup, asking its huge diesel engine to give you the freight-train effect. With the Raptor, the experience is rather more like punching it in a Mustang, and no one is going to come away from a Raptor drive unimpressed by the Ford EcoBoost V6 turbo under the hood. The 10-speed transmission is snappy in manual mode and full auto alike.

You can take a Ford Raptor for a test drive at our dealership to get a firsthand look at what this remarkable pickup has to offer. The Ford F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in America for the past 40 years, and with a fully upgraded and souped up Raptor, you'll have all the benefits of an F-150 with a variety of unique and extreme features. View our Ford Raptor inventory to view vehicle details, pricing, and other features that make the Raptor so extreme. The Ford Raptor has been named the most extreme vehicle, and with it, comes many features you'll want to get your hands on. Take a look at our accessories to see what you can equip your Raptor or other Ford vehicle with, and schedule an appointment with us to get any features of your choosing installed!

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 Ranger Will Return to the US in 2018

PEKIN, Ill. – There’s been a lot of complaining that Ford Motor Co. has the 2016 Ford Ranger in over 180 global markets, excluding the U.S., but Ford finally may have bent its ear to hear the complaints of midsize pickup drivers because the Ford Ranger will return to the U.S. in 2018, according to inside sources aware of Ford’s plans.

Ford is working with the United Auto Workers to build the Ranger at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. but before anything is set in stone the union and then Ford’s board of directors must agree to the contract’s contents.

The last Ranger manufactured in the U.S. rolled off the assembly line in 2011 at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant – now out of commission – in Minnesota. But that didn’t end production of the Ranger, which is now built in South Africa, Argentina, Thailand, and Nigeria.

If you’ve ever wondered why Ford doesn’t just import the Ranger, it’s because of a 25% tariff called the “chicken tax,” which, for Ford to recover the costs of importation, would hike up prices for American buyers. As you can imagine, a midsize truck wouldn’t sell well with a 25% price increase.

Right now Ford and the UAW are discussing whether or not the Ranger would fit in at the Michigan Assembly Plant, which employs 4,500 workers who build the C-Max and Focus. If the contract to build the Ranger in Michigan goes through, production of the C-Max and Focus would be moved to Mexico.

If the Ford Ranger returns to the U.S. in 2018, it would help the automaker clinch a berth in the competition for midsize truck sales. Ford’s competitors have already cleared a space for their products, including the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier. Inserting its Ranger back into the midsize truck segment would also help Ford meet the federal governments rising standards for fuel economy across fleets.

If you were as bummed as us when Ford ended production of the Ranger back in 2011, then news like this should have you out of your seat. We can’t wait to see the Ranger return in 2018, and we’ll always love the old models. Check out our inventory of used cars and trucks at our Morton area used car dealer to see if we have any in stock.

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

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2015 GMC Canyon Has One of The 10 Best Interiors

PEKIN, Illi. – We sure hope the 2015 GMC Canyon isn't camera shy, because it's been the center of attention since its big debut! Already the recipient of numerous honors such as the Inaugural Midsize Truck Award and the Best of the Best Truck Award, the pickup now has another gold star to add to its growing list – the 2015 GMC Canyon has one of the 10 Best Interiors according to Ward's Auto!

When it came down to selecting the 10 Best Vehicle Interiors of the year out of the 42 eligible models, materials, design aesthetics, fit-and-finish, ergonomics, safety, comfort, value, and driver information were all taken into consideration. Ward's named the 2015 GMC Canyon one of the 10 Best Interiors of the year for the truck's ability to revive the stale midsize pickup segment. The Ward's team was particularly impressed by the extensive feature content which makes you feel like you're inside a well-equipped SUV, shedding the stereotypical "compact work truck" expectation. You can enjoy a Bose audio system, plush leather, user-friendly touchscreen, and advanced safety features, without having to upgrade to a full-size truck!

From our perspective, we can say the 2015 GMC Canyon has been extremely popular among consumers as well. We can barely keep them on the lot! Stop by our Peoria Area GMC Dealership to learn more about this title-holder! We have tons of New GMC Trucks to serve your pickup needs!

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  at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

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