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.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

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

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Blends Best of Both Worlds

PEKIN, Ill. – Sometimes, to reach a new highpoint it’s necessary to venture from one path and take a chance in another direction, and when an automaker like Ford Motor Co. already produces two of the best pickup trucks available, the solution to manufacture a cutting-edge model is simple: Combine.

The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor blends the best of both worlds by combining the most noteworthy building blocks from the 2015 Ford F-150 and Raptor. The result isn’t Frankensteinian at all, but instead makes for a bold, capable pickup that can rip through the toughest trails.

But Ford didn’t just stitch together a slew of components and declare, “Voila!” The 2017 F-150 Raptor spent some serious testing time on the most unforgiving trails in Northern Michigan, where it cut its teeth prevailing over obstructive hills, trench like ruts, and myriad rail nuisances that tend to bring other pickups to a halt.

When we declare the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor blends the best of both worlds, we’re referring to a few functional improvements including extended ground clearance that trumps the first generation Raptor, and also new 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology. The increased ground clearance leaves more room between the rigid landscape and the pickup’s chassis, while the new shock absorption technology decreases yet strengthens suspension travel over choppy terrain.

Of course, where would the 2017 F-150 Raptor be in regards to capability were it not equipped with an all-new four-wheel drive, torque-on-demand transfer case? The transfer case spreads power to the front and rear wheels, and fuses notable aspects of clutch-driven, on-demand all-wheel drive with mechanical-locking four-wheel drive.

If you’re a fanatic of new Ford trucks, get ready to test-drive this monstrous machine in fall 2016, and check out the extensive inventory of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles at our Washington, IL, area used car dealer.

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.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

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

Cadillac Capsule Collection Makes Luxury Automotive Fashion Statement

© General Motors

PEKIN, Ill. – The auto industry is transitioning into an era where brands' cultural relevance matters to consumers. With that in mind, every unfamiliar avenue Cadillac speeds down needs to be a rational extension of their luxury image, and creating a line of fashionable menswear was one of the conquerable roads they discovered.

The Cadillac Capsule Collection makes a luxury automotive fashion statement exemplified by 15 fall and winter looks designed for men by rising designers, and styled by famed street style icon Nick Wooster. The collection is the perfect conduit for Cadillac to showcase its luxury design principles in the world of designer men's clothing.

In order for the Cadillac Capsule Collection to make a luxury automotive fashion statement, Cadillac teamed up with some of the fashion industry’s most creative designers from prominent brands such as Cadet, Carlos Campos, David Hart, Ernest Alexander, Gents, J. Lindeberg, Mark McNairy New Amsterdam, PLAC, and Timo Weiland.

Many of the designers have churned out high fashion pieces for the annual New York Men’s Day (NYMD) that showcases pieces from elite designers to celebrate the impact of menswear in American fashion. Cadillac has served as a key sponsor of NYMD since its commencement as a high-end fashion show.

There’s an unfamiliar intrigue that draws excitement over the Cadillac Capsule Collection when you realize the designs fall perfectly in line with Cadillac's luxury vehicle lineup. You can find the Cadillac Capsule Collection exclusively at Gilt.com/CadillacCapsule beginning September 9, 2015. Clothing prices range from $59-2,000, and David Hart, Cadet and Ernest Alexander will have pieces only unobtainable at other retailers. 

Considering how awestruck we are by the Cadillac cars for sale at our Bartonville area Cadillac dealer, we anticipate the Cadillac Capsule Collection will imitate the same modern luxury found in the automaker's vehicles. 

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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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

Ford Vehicles Brave the Coldest Climates Without Issue

PEKIN, Ill. – Have you ever run into trouble trying to start your vehicle in the dead of winter? Ford Motor Co. wants to make sure your vehicle functions year-round, regardless of how much snow falls or how cold it gets outside.

All 75 global prototypes of Ford vehicles brave the coldest climates without issue when the automaker brings them to McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to go through bitter temperature testing. The laboratory simulates a range of cold weather climates from 40 to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and Ford vehicles have evinced their durability by pushing through each test.

Many Ford drivers live in isolated, northern lands burdened by winter’s heaviest snows and coldest bite, such as in Alaska and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada. These drivers not only need reliable modes of transportation, but also vehicles that can act as safe havens if the weather gets brutal enough, and it certainly does.

Thanks to a group of engineers who enacted daily modifications to vehicles while they tested at McKinley, Ford vehicles can brave the coldest climates without issue. In impressive display of motivation through trial and error, engineers reworked the F-Series Super Duty’s 6.7L engine until they discovered ceramic gold plugs produce heat faster than metallic plugs. This enables the engine to easily start and continue running in cold temperatures.

While we don’t experience Alaskan or Canadian winters in central Illinois, we definitely feel the temperature plunge at times during the winter. Harsh winter weather can prevent your vehicle from starting, but we’re certain that new Ford vehicles can overcome any temperatures we experience at our Washington, Ill., area used car dealer.

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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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

Ford F-650 and F-750 Production Moves to Ohio from Mexico

PEKIN, Illi. – There’s nothing like quality American manufacturing. Ford Motor Co. understands that, which is probably why Ford F-650 and F-750 production moved to Ohio from Mexico. More importantly the move to Ohio established 1,000 new jobs at Ohio Assembly Plant located in Avon Lake, Ohio.

The F-650 and F-750 stand obstinate as the top-selling medium-duty trucks in America for 30 years, and on August 12, 2015, they rolled off an American assembly line for the first time. Along with 1,000 hourly UAW jobs, Ohio Assembly Plant also received a $168 million investment that will provide new body shop equipment and other tooling needed to manufacture the trucks.

Despite their monstrous size, Ford offers the F-650 and F-750 in an array of body styles, including a Regular Cab, SuperCab, and Crew Cab, as well as straight-frame, dock-height, and a tractor model intended for heavy towing. Additionally, the medium-duty trucks storm the road with a Ford-designed-and-built diesel engine and transmission combination – a feat no other truck manufacturer has taken on.

The F-650 and F-750 are the only medium-duty trucks made available with a gasoline-powered engine. Also available is a 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine option, as well as a 6.8-liter V10 option that boasts 320 horsepower and an impressive 460 pounds per feet of torque.  

It’s great news for America that Ford F-650 and F-750 production moved to Ohio from Mexico – It could be a sign of the times that Ford feels the urge to bring some major manufacturing back to its homeland. Bringing manufacturing back home to create 1,000 jobs shows how much Ford cares about the American people. We like to reflect that caring attitude, which is why we get you the best deal we can on the certified pre-owned cars and trucks at our Bartonville area used car dealer!

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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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

2016 Ford Ranger to be Built in Nigeria but not in US

PEKIN, Illi. – If you’ve been waiting for the day that Ford Motor Co. would bring back the Ranger midsize pickup truck, you might as well keep waiting. 

The 2016 Ford Ranger will be built in Nigeria but not in the U.S., which isn’t all that shocking considering 148 other global markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa already have their hands on this seemingly mythical machine. To give you an idea of just how elusive it has become, the last time a Ranger rolled of a U.S. assembly line was in St. Paul, Minn., on December 2011.

Ford’s decision to build the 2016 Ranger in Nigeria but not in the U.S. has everything to do with its expansion plan to exhibit a larger presence in the Middle East and Africa. According to Ford, Nigeria will be the first African country, with exception to South Africa, to produce Ford vehicles.

The 2016 Ranger will be assembled with body parts and components imported from South Africa. The new assembly plant is in Ikeja, a suburb of Lagos, and is expected to create 180 jobs that will help produce up to 5,000 vehicles annually that will be sold exclusively in Nigeria.

The 2016 Ranger was the best-selling vehicle in South Africa for the first half of 2015, and is capable of towing close to 8,000 pounds. It’s the perfect midsize pickup for making your way over rough terrains or simply driving through an urban area with more ease than a full-size pickup provides.

No wonder Americans want this truck back in the U.S. We’re just as jealous as you are of the countries whose people are bestowed with the magnificence of the 2016 Ford Range, but for now you can get behind the wheel of a 2015 Ford F-150 and soon a 2016 F-150 – We guarantee you’ll enjoy either model. We also have a great inventory of used cars and trucks at our Morton area used car dealer. As far as we know, there aren't any Ranger lurking in there, but you might want to check for yourself!

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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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

New Ford Spider Screen Keeps 8-Legged Freaks Out of Your Car

PEKIN, Ill. –– Don't scream, but the itsy-bitsy spider isn't only climbing up the water spout. The little 8-legged things you fear more than your great aunt's meatloaf have found a point of infiltration into your vehicle's fuel vapor lines, and it's worse than you think.

You’re probably familiar with the creepy crawlers that Ford has discovered to be weaving webs in fuel vapor lines of vehicles. They’re called yellow sac spiders and they frequent the nooks and crannies of homes across North America. What makes yellow sac spiders so hazardous has nothing to do with their bites –– although they do hold an unofficial record for most human bites –– but has everything to do with the way they build their webs. In fact, these yellow buggers don’t weave a web at all but instead construct dense cocoon-like structures.

The uncanny spider cocoons are thick enough to block fuel vapor lines, which can lead to engine damage and waning vehicle performance. This got Ford’s Spidey-senses tingling and prompted them to develop a spider screen that keeps 8-legged freaks from reaching one of your car’s most vital components.

The screen is placed inside your vehicle’s fuel vapor line to prevent spiders from entering. This keeps the line clear and allows air and vapor circulation for a vehicle’s carbon canister to flow freely without any creepy obstructions.

The new Ford spider screen that keeps 8-legged freaks out of your car will debut with the 2016 Ford Focus RS before eventual implementation into the entire Ford vehicle lineup. Until then, keep a can of Raid in your cup holder. And remember, spiders aren’t the only potential cause of damage to your vehicle. It’s important to get your oil changed on a regular basis, as well as any other necessary car repair, to maintain your vehicle’s quality. We can’t exterminate spiders for you, but we can handle your more traditional auto service needs at our Washington, Ill., area used car dealer.

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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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

5 Ways to Help Your Young Child Prepare to Go Back to School

PEKIN, Illi.– Summer still has plenty of sun and warmth for us to enjoy, but there’s no denying the season is coming to a close, along with the seemingly brief vacation from school that comes with it. The month of August can be a stressful time for you and your child as they prepare to head back to school.

However, there are ways you can help your child make a smooth transition from eating popsicles under the sun to learning times tables in a classroom. We thought these 5 ways to help your young child prepare to go back to school might make that transition a bit less rocky for you and your young child. Take a look:

1. Have a talk with your child about how ready they feel. It seems the most rational place to start when it comes to preparing your child to go back to school is to simply have a talk with them about how ready they are to adjust to a school routine. What subjects are they excited to learn? Are they nervous about anything? Do they know what friends will be in their classroom? Do they know who their teacher is? Ask questions that will make them consider what a school day entails so they can begin to adjust their mindset ahead of time.


2. Attend classroom or school orientations with your child. Not every school hosts orientations, but if they do at your child’s school it would be wise to attend one with them. This will reintroduce your child to the school’s atmosphere, and help them become familiar with the premises so they aren’t totally out of their element on the first day. This is especially helpful if your child is attending a new school for the first time.


3. Make buying school supplies fun for your child. Leading up to the first day of school, one of the events that might strike fear or anxiety into your child is dragging them to the store to purchase necessary school supplies for the semester. Some children may feel apprehensive about a trip like this because those items are associated with –– gulp –– learning, homework, and being away from home for 7–8 hours a day. However, you can make buying school supplies fun for your child. Give them some freedom to pick out the items they like, just make sure they stick to any guidelines that exist from the school.


4. Put your child back on a school schedule before school starts. This one could be the hardest to implement in the last weeks of summer, but it will definitely help you and your child adjust to the school year and make the transition easier. Start putting your child to bed earlier and waking them up earlier. Tell them they need to come in from playing outside a little earlier in the evening. Doing these things will help your child prepare for a school schedule that permits less playtime or staying up late. It will prepare them for a schedule that revolves more around homework, extracurricular activities, and getting more sleep for long days. 


5. Instill independence in your child. Anxiety due to being away from their parents is one of the tough issues kids face when they go back to school. To prevent anxiety in your child, it might be a good idea to instill some independence in them so they become used to being away from you. Let them pick out certain school supplies, as mentioned, or let them choose what they want for lunch on their first day of school.

We’ve all been there and know how tough it can be to start a new school year, especially if its your first time or if you're attending a new school. Hopefully these 5 ways to help your young child prepare to go back to school give you some ideas for what you can do to mitigate the anxiety and calm the nerves that your child may experience as summer vacation closes and school draws near.  

After you drop your child off at school this fall, remember to stop in at our Morton area used car dealer to get a quick oil change or have some auto service taken care of! 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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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