Ford EcoSport - Official Vehicle of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

PEKIN, Ill., – The all-new Ford EcoSport compact crossover has been named the official vehicle of Marvel Studios' "Guardians of the the Galaxy Vol.2!"Fans can enter the "Be the Guardian of Your Galaxy" sweepstakes to win a Ford EcoSport, a hometown screening of the movie, and more cool prizes!

The Ford EcoSport joins the ranks of the well known and popular Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, and Ford Expedition in the Ford SUV lineup. The EcoSport is Ford's smallest crossover and only compact crossover vehicle available. The new Ford EcoSport comes complete with a variety of customizable options, including 8-inch touch screen, SYNC 3, Wi-Fi hotspot, FordPass, and multiple engine options.

The EcoSport is available in 10 different colors, seven lighting options, and four trim levels! It's the perfect vehicle to take you on all of your adventures so you can be the Guardian of Your Galaxy!

“Teaming up with Marvel is a perfect way to share how EcoSport turns every drive into a chance to live big, enabling our Earth-bound customers to experience as many adventures as ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ offers,” said Chantel Lenard, executive director, Ford U.S. marketing.

At Velde Ford, we think it's pretty exciting that the Ford EcoSport is the official vehicle of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!" The EcoSport will become available for purchase in early 2018, so stay tuned for updates on our social media! In the meantime, browse our available Ford inventory online and feel free to schedule a test drive at Velde Ford Pekin!

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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Go Back to School with 5 Creative Lunchbox Ideas

PEKIN, Ill., – It’s time to start thinking about getting the kids back to school! In the midst of all your school supply and clothing shopping, you may have forgotten about packing lunches! Go back to school with 5 creative lunchbox ideas, so you can nix the boring sandwiches!

1. Breakfast for Lunch 

Breakfast is the best meal of the day, so why not have it twice? This link has a breakfast lunch box idea with a list to follow, or you can create your own breakfast lunchbox. Try dry cereal, yogurt, berries or other fruit, leftover pancakes, English muffins, etc.

2. Make Your Own Lunchable 

Kids always love Lunchables, but they aren’t the healthiest or the most cost effective. Make your own with this list, or make it up! Try including crackers, fruit, cookies, cheese, lunchmeat, carrots, etc.

3. Snack Packs 

Who doesn’t love bite-sized food? Small food items are easier for kids to eat, and you can give them lots of variety. Try this list of items to include in their lunches or go with things you know they like. Try grapes, carrots, cheese cubes, lunchmeat, cucumbers, applesauce, or anything else you can think of!

4. Wraps 

Wraps are a great alternative to regular sandwiches. This list has a few good ideas, but we especially like the almond butter strawberry wrap. Sounds more like dessert than lunch! You can always use peanut butter if you have picky eater on your hands.

5. Bagel with Cream Cheese 

A bagel is also a good alternative to a sandwich. You can use peanut butter and jelly instead of cream cheese, and include some other small snacks like crackers and veggies.

Send your kids back to school with these 5 creative lunchbox ideas! They’ll be happy not to be having a boring sandwich every day, and you can feel good about knowing exactly what they’re eating! No matter what you pack your kids in their school lunches, they’re sure to get excited about back to school shopping! Do some back to school shopping for yourself and check out our selection of great Ford vehicles! You can start shopping online at Velde Ford today!

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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Smart Cars Meet Smart Homes with Ford SYNC

PEKIN, Ill. – Ford is working on linking smart devices like Amazon Echo and Wink to allow Ford drivers more control between their houses and vehicles. Soon smart cars will meet smart homes with Ford SYNC.

Amazon Echo and Wink connectivity innovations are part of Ford Smart Mobility, which is the plan to take Ford to the next level in connectivity, mobility, and autonomous vehicles. Ford is planning on linking the home automation devices to its vehicles with the help of Ford SYNC. 

Smart cars will meet smart homes with Ford SYNC Connect technology by using the Amazon cloud-based voice service, Alexa. This will allow customers to access their vehicle controls inside their homes and vice versa. Using Amazon Echo, Ford owners could give Alexa a command from inside their home to do the following:

• Start/spot vehicle
• Lock/unlock
• State range and charge status of electric vehicle
• Check fuel level
• State vehicle mileage summary
• Provide vehicle location with street name and driving time

Or you can give Alexa a command from your vehicle for your home like:

• Turn porch light on/off
• Turn lights on/off
• Close/shut garage door
• Control thermostat
• Check security system

While Ford is figuring out all the systems, now is the best time to purchase a new Ford with the option of Ford SYNC. Come into Velde Ford today and we’ll find you a great vehicle to take home. 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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Access Ford Vehicle Information with MyFord Mobile on Your Smartwatch

PEKIN, Ill. – The technology frenzy continues for Ford Motor Co. as it releases an update that allows you to access vehicle information with MyFord Mobile on your smartwatch. Rather than digging in your pocket and pulling out a smartphone to see what’s up with your Ford electric or hybrid plug-in vehicle, you can now take a peek at the technology on your wrist with the graceful lift of an arm and tilt of the eyes.

The MyFord Mobile app, developed by Ford engineers, provides a few actionable features and sings a litany of detailed information about your electric or hybrid vehicle, including:

• Battery charge level so you can gauge when you need to charge up
• Driving range so you’re aware of your distance capability before you hit the road
• Vehicle location to help you find your parked car in the city or a mammoth mall parking lot
• Vehicle mileage summary so you can improve your lead foot
• Previous trip summary including personal driving score and percentage of EV miles
• Door locking for the times you forget, and unlocking for pure convenience
• Preconditioning your vehicle cabin remotely for cold winter nights or hot summer days

Ford is urging its customers to follow suit as it moves toward greener vehicle technology. The feature that allows you to monitor your previous trip displays your miles per gallon or mpg equivalent, trip miles, and braking and driving efficiency via a graphic of green leaves. The more green leaves shown, the more efficient you drive.

The MyFord Mobile app for smartwatches also includes a new Google Maps feature that allows you to pinch and zoom on the map to locate charging stations for your Ford electric or hybrid vehicle. The app is capable on Android Wear and Apple Watch smartwatch applications, and is designed for new or existing owners of the Ford C-Max Energi, Ford Focus Electric, and Ford Fusion Energi. You can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

If you’re a customer of our Pekin area Ford dealer and an owner of a Ford electric or hybrid vehicle, we recommend downloading the new MyFord Mobile app for your smartwatch. Ford is at the helm of automotive technology, as it always has been, and there’s nothing better than experiencing convenient technological integrations the automaker has spent copious hours developing to enhance your driving experience.

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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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.

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