Ford, Fisher-Price Power Wheels Smart Drive Mustang

PEKIN, Ill., – Ford has been working closely with Fisher-Price to bring Mustang lovers and their children the ultimate Power Wheels experience! The Ford, Fisher-Price Power Wheels Smart Drive Mustang is a fun, battery-operated toy car designed for young enthusiasts, by experienced engineers.

Available in blue or pink, created from real Ford data, the Power Wheels Smart Drive Mustang incorporates advanced technology and safety features, just like your real pony-car. This computer-controlled powertrain, ride-on toy features:

• Traction control - for those slippery grass slopes and rocky driveway turns. Wheel slip is monitored to adjust motor speeds.
• Stability monitoring - for those sharp turns and intense races! The tilt sensors detect angles, and turn off the motors to prevent rollovers.
• Speed control - in case your little speed demon is going a little too fast. Set a top speed from 1 MPH to 5 MPH.
• Battery monitoring - so your mini racer never runs out of charge on the road! Check the battery level on the LED touch interface.
• Built-in sound system - because no sporty car would be complete without an awesome stereo and auxiliary input to play your own music.

The Ford, Fisher-Price Power Wheels Smart Drive Mustang will go on sale next month! It sounds like the perfect Christmas gift for the little one in your life! With all of the safety features, what parent could protest! Don't forget to stop by Velde Ford of Pekin this holiday season to see what it's like to be treated like family! You can learn more about us on our Who is Velde Ford? page!

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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Introducing the Ford EcoSport - Go Small, Live Big

PEKIN, Ill., – If you haven't heard, Ford's smallest SUV is here, and it's packing a big punch. Introducing the Ford EcoSport - Go Small, Live Big with this compact SUV. The word's first ever Snapchat vehicle reveal took place last Monday, presenting the EcoSport at a Hollywood pop-up event.

Don't be fooled by the vehicle's small appearance! The tagline "Go Small & Live Big" is meant to encompass the SUV's small size, while simultaneously showing buyers that you can still "live big."

“More people are choosing to spend their time and money sharing experiences with friends and family instead of buying more stuff,” Chantel Lenard, ‎executive director, Ford U.S. marketing said. “EcoSport fits perfectly into this growing lifestyle. It’s our smallest SUV, packed with features and personality.”

Features of the Ford EcoSport Include:

• B&O PLAY audio system, including 10 speakers
• HD Radio Technology, and SiriusXM satellite radio
• SYNC 3
• 8-inch infotainment display screen
• SYNC Connect with FordPass mobile app
• 12-volt power outlet
• Available 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with Intelligent 4WD
• 30 stowage pockets, bins, and hooks
• Cargo management system

It's exciting to be introducing the Ford EcoSport - Go Small, Live Big campaign! Ford's newest, smallest SUV won't be hitting the lots until early 2018, so while you're waiting, be sure to check out all of our other Ford models at Velde Ford Pekin! 

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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Delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

PEKIN, Ill. – After many hours of cooking, cleaning, and shopping, we finally made it to Thanksgiving. The meal with your family was delicious and everybody complimented you on the stuffing this year. But now you have all of these leftovers piled in your fridge, and there’s no way you’re eating the same thing for the next week. We have a solution for you, though! Try these delicious Thanksgiving leftover recipes and make something new with the old.

Delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole

Leftover Turkey Chili

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pesto Panini

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Thanksgiving Leftover Nachos

Mashed Potato Puffs

Turkey & Brie Grilled Cheese

Don't feel like you're stuck eating the same thing everyday for a week after Thanksgiving! Embrace those leftovers and try out these delicious Thanksgivng leftover recipes! Be sure to check out our Who is Velde? page this holiday! We want to show you what it's like to be treated like family during your car buying or auto service experience!

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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Best Travel Times to Avoid Thanksgiving Traffic

PEKIN, Ill. –– Are you planning to travel this Thanksgiving? Many Americans take to the roads each November to visit family members and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, but this holiday can be a rough one if you haven't planned your trip ahead of time!

Last year an estimated 46.9 million Americans took to the road to enjoy turkey and stuffing somewhere away from home, according to AAA. It's safe to assume many of the families who squeezed into cars for those trips found themselves squeezed between other vehicles caught in bothersome traffic jams.

But after two years of monitoring traffic conditions around the holidays, Google uncovered a few insights that could potentially keep you out of the gridlock game throughout your holiday travels. If you're planning on crossing state lines this year to enjoy your feast, take a look at these best travel times to avoid Thanksgiving traffic.

Best Travel Times to Avoid Thanksgiving Traffic

• If possible, avoid making travel plans for the day before Thanksgiving. According to Google's data, Wednesday is the worst day of the week to travel on before Thanksgiving. It's no wonder seeing as everyone else in America is also scrambling to get to their Turkey Day destinations. If your plans require you to travel on Wednesday, try to leave before or after the timeframe of 3–5 p.m., which is considered the worst time on the worst day to travel.

• It might sound crazy, but the best time to travel for Thanksgiving is, well, Thanksgiving Day. Thursday tends to be the day with the least amount of traffic all week, and since typical Turkey Day feasts take place between 12 and 2 p.m., you're less likely to run into any traffic during this time.

• If you're heading to a new destination for the first time this Thanksgiving, prepare for your trip with directions from more than one source––don't put all of the pressure on Siri. We recommend using reputable map sites like Google maps and MapQuest, plus GPS technology of some kind. And, of course, it never hurts to bring along a more dated yet still handy technology, the road map. 

• So you've reached your destination, consumed more turkey than you should have, and packed up the leftovers. It's the day after Thanksgiving and you're probably thinking you can beat traffic by heading home early on Saturday. Unfortunately, this idea runs through just about every other traveler's head. Traffic can be up to 40% worse on Saturday, so spend a little extra time with those long-lost family members and head back home on Sunday instead.

If you're staying around the Pekin area during Thanksgiving, stop by our East Peoria area Ford dealer for some incredible auto service! 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


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3 Ford Vehicles Named Most Loved by Strategic Vision

PEKIN, Ill., – Strategic Vision is a research-based auto consultancy. They have announced the results of their Customer Love Index survey. The 3 Ford vehicles named most loved by Strategic Vision include the 2016 Ford Mustang convertible, 2016 Ford F-150, and 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi.

By compiling data from over 120 different categories, Strategic Vision computes a CLI, Customer Love Index for each vehicle. The Mustang, F-150, and Energi were the highest rated vehicles in their respective categories.

2016 Ford Mustang Convertible - Most Loved Standard Convertible Features:

• EPA-Est. MPG: 18 city/ 27 hwy
• 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 engine
• Rear View Camera
• Ford SYNC
• 17'' Sparkle Silver-Painted Aluminum Wheels

2016 Ford F-150 - Most Loved Full-Size Pickup Features: 

• EPA-Est. MPG: 18 city/ 24 hwy
• 2.7L V6 EcoBoost engine
• Max Trailer Tow Package
• Ford SYNC
• 17'' Silver-Painted Aluminum Wheels

2016 Ford C-MAX Energi - Most Loved Small Alternative Powertrain Car Features:

• EPA-Est. MPG: 95 city/ 81 hwy
• 2.0L Hybrid Electric Powertrain
• SmartGuage with EcoGuide
• Ford SYNC
• 17'' Machined Aluminum Wheels

To learn more about these 3 Ford vehicles named Most Loved by Strategic Vision, visit our model overview pages at VeldeFordPekin.com! Don't forget to check out our latest videos while you're there! We think you'll like what you see on our Who is Velde Ford? page, so come join our family! 

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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Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Want on Your Plate

PEKIN, Ill., – Thanksgiving is just two short weeks away! Whether you're hosting the family gathering, or you need a dish to pass at a get together, these are some Thanksgiving side dishes you want on your plate! From carbs, to veggies, it's time to cook up some food we can all be thankful for!

Roasted Potatoes with Crunchy Onions

These tasty potatoes are a great alternative to the classic mashed potatoes! The onions give it a nice crunch, you could even add a little cheese to switch things up.

Sweet Potato Casserole

This sweet potato casserole is more like dessert than dinner! If you're not a fan of nuts, you can still include the crunchy topping without them! 

Rosemary Garlic Skillet Bread

Skip the canned rolls this holiday and bake your own bread! Your family will be talking about this one until you make it again! 

Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Garlic Bread

This would make a great side dish with dinner, or an easy appetizer! Who doesn't love spinach artichoke dip?

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Spice up this recipe by adding your own seasoning combination, or skip the parmesan and go with a stronger cheese!

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Cooked carrots will never be the same after you try these. Sweet and cooked to perfection!

Corn Casserole

This corn casserole is similar to cornbread but with more corn and more moisture! (It's basically savory cake.)

Get creative this holiday as you think of which Thanksgiving side dishes you want on your plate! Hopefully you feel inspired to feed your family well and have the most delicious Thanksgiving dinner to date! While you're getting ready to cook your feast, don't forget to take a second to reflect on what you're thankful for! At Velde Ford, we're thankful for our loyal guests and dedicated team members! To see what we're talking about, get a glimpse into the Velde family on our Who is Velde Ford? page!

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 Continues to Support Thanksgiving Day Parade

PEKIN, Ill., – America's Thanksgiving Day parade has been a beloved tradition for nearly 90 years. Each holiday season, crowds gather in Detroit to watch the floats and performers make their way down Woodward Avenue. This year, Ford continues its support of the Thanksgiving Day Parade with more than 40 Ford vehicles, including f-Series trucks, Mustangs, and explorers leading the way down Woodward, along with the Ford Mobility One float.

Ford is also a huge contributor to local community and educational programs in Detroit and in America. This year they are contributing $20 million to Detroit organizations. They also signed a new three-year sponsorship commitment to The Parade Company. In addition, Ford is teaming up with Holiday Meals on Wheels, which helps homebound seniors receive Thanksgiving dinner.

The Ford Mobility One float is more than 90 feet long and represents the history of Ford Motor Company. It includes a Model-T, Henry Ford, as well as modern students and technology. Tune in as Ford continues to support the Thanksgiving Day parade!  The festivities will take place in Detroit on November 24 starting at 8:45 am.

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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30 Things To Be Thankful For

PEKIN, Ill., – The holiday season is coming up quick! Halloween has come and went, Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, and Christmas is just around the corner. Before you get too invested in planning family events and shopping for gifts, take a second to think about the things you take for granted everyday. Check out our list of 30 things to be thankful for.

1. Good health - if you've got it, don't take it for granted. Not everyone does.
2. Sunshine - or clouds, or rain, whatever makes you happy! Weather is cool.
3. Hugs - hugs are just the best.
4. Books - or movies, or tv shows, entertainment for your brain in general.
5. Money in the bank - even if it's just $1, that's more than many people have.
6. Pets, or animals in general - affection from furry friends is one of life's greatest gifts!
7. Food to eat - knowing where your next meal is going to come from is a huge blessing.
8. A job - whether you hate it or love it, money to pay the bills is something to be grateful for.
9. Clothes to wear - trendy or not, at least they're clean and at least they fit.
10. Water - it's easy to forget that clean water is inaccessible to many.
11. Music - listening to it, making it, whatever you're in to! Music is good for the soul.
12. Sports teams - we need someone to cheer on or hate on, right?
13. Warmth - electricity and the ability to take warm showers are something we take for granted.
14. Laughter - the best medicine!
15. Your sanity - fleeting or not.
16. Service workers - waiters, bus drivers, postal service workers, all people we should thank regularly.
17. The ability to communicate - whether it's a phone call, an email, or snail mail, not everyone is capable of communicating with loved ones regularly.
18. Family - crazy or not, they've got your back.
19. Your freedom - being allowed to do what makes you happy isn't something that's possible for everyone.
20. Friends - who else are you going to complain to and do dumb things with?
21. A roof over your head - big or small, a place to call home is something to be thankful for.
22. Comfortable shoes - and shoes that fit!
23. Transportation - car, bus, train, or plane, getting where you need to go is a luxury for some.
24. Being appreciated - at work, or at home, knowing you're appreciated is always nice.
25. Partners - boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or best friend, having someone to lean on is something to be thankful for.
26. Chocolate - or your favorite sugary treat.
27. Kind neighbors - no matter how small of a role they play in your life, they could always be more annoying!
28. Coffee - just coffee. Caffeine in general.
29. Challenges - to remind you what it's like to overcome them.
30. Yourself! - There is no other you, and that's something to celebrate.

Getting caught up in your daily grind, or letting yourself become overwhelmed by the stress of the holidays is an easy thing to do. We hope that today, and this month, you'll take some time to appreciate the little things. If you think our list of 30 things to be thankful for is missing something, be sure to let us know! At Velde Ford, we're thankful for all of our loyal guests who continue to support us! If you'd like to know a little more about our Velde family, be sure to check out our Who is Velde Ford? 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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Fire at Ford Motor Company's World Headquarters

PEKIN, Ill., – A Fire at Ford Motor Company's world headquarters sent employees home on Monday morning. The evacuation took place as a precaution to the report of smoke being smelled. 

The fire began at an electrical substation in the basement of the building, interrupting power to the entire headquarters, including the Ford Credit office buildings, and one of the main data centers. This particular data center is used to report and track sales. Although there are battery backups in place to ensure no data was lost, the loss of power resulted in the building being shut down for most of the day. This means that Ford was unable to release October sales data on November 1st as planned. 

The fire has since been contained. No one was injured. It is expected that the October sales report will be released in the next week.

We're glad to be able to report that the fire at Ford Motor Company's world headquarters only caused minor interruptions. Just like Ford cares about their employees, we care about your safety! If you're looking for a new vehicle, and you'd like a memorable car dealership experience, let our friendly sales professionals put you in a new Ford! If you're interested in learning what Velde Ford is all about, check out our Who is Velde Ford? page! 

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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