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.

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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.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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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

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2015 Ford F-150 First Pickup to Earn 5-Star Rating for SuperCrew Model

PEKIN, Illi.– Here’s some news that might throw a few of you off: the 2015 Ford F-150 is the first pickup to earn a 5-star safety rating for its SuperCrew model from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 2015 Ford F-150 is expected to be the top vehicle driven by military members as it was in 2014, and has already earned a number of awards. Now the F-150 has gone a step further by giving a superb crash test performance due to a 700-pound weight loss through its high-strength steel frame, aluminum alloy body, and flat out ingenious engineering.

The weight loss wasn’t easy, but a team of Ford truck product development veterans and researchers were able to pull it off and create a durable, capable, fuel efficient, safe pickup. According to Ford, the team developed 31 safety-related advancements like new structures, materials and joining methods that were virtually tested with supercomputer simulations before the F-150 was retested in advanced laboratories and engineered as the safest F-150 yet.

Despite the fact that the 2015 Ford F-150 is the first pickup to earn a 5-star safety rating for its SuperCrew model, there are still plenty of doubters out there who claim the repair costs of the new F-150 are too high. In the words of Taylor Swift, "Haters gonna hate," but you can bet Ford totally disagrees with these claims that are based on data from unrealistic stunts and has no problem disproving them on the truth about truck safety and repairability

Ford prefers to look at real-world accident repair data because, well, you’re a real person and could find yourself in a real accident, not some contrived stunt. And the real-world repair costs aren’t actually that high. In fact, Ford says real-world repair costs for the 2015 F-150 end up being about $869 less than last year’s F-150 model, according to the body shop certification company Assured Performance. Allstate and State Farm have also backed up Ford’s claims that the 2015 F-150’s repair costs are affordable, stating that insurance costs are comparable with 2014 models.

Regardless of what doubters say, Ford has the facts and this top safety award, not to mention support from other companies, proves that the 2015 Ford F-150 is a capable, durable, safe pickup. Got a ding in your 2015 F-150? Feel free to bring it into our collision shop! If you still need to be convinced that this is the highest-quality pickup in the market, feel free to come test-drive any of the New Ford Trucks at our Washington, IL, area Ford dealership!

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

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2016 Ford F-150 Limited Debuts this Winter

PEKIN, Illi.– Your idea of automotive luxury will change when the 2016 Ford F-150 Limited debuts this winter and Ford redefines what it means to drive an exclusive pickup truck.

The 2016 F-150 Limited is Ford’s most advanced pickup truck to date and is set apart from competitors by its enhanced features, ingenious technology and chic design elements. There is a growing consumer segment that desires more glamorous vehicles, such as the high-performance 2016 Ford Mustang, and Ford is happy to provide these consumers with a ritzy pickup.

The 2016 F-150 Limited will come in four colors: Shadow Black, Magnetic, Blue Jeans and a White Platinum Metallic tri-coat. These luxurious colors will be accentuated by a number of notable features when the 2016 Ford F-150 Limited debuts this winter, including:

• 22-inch polished aluminum wheels
• Raised lettering on the hood that says LIMITED
• An exclusive grille
• A satin-finished chrome bumper, door handles, exhaust tailpipe and tailgate badge

The 2016 F-150 Limited comes ready with SYNC 3, the latest version of Ford’s communications and entertainment system, as well as a Sony 10-speaker sound system with HD Radio, a subwoofer and CD player, and a 5-year subscription to SiriusXM and TravelLink. Other technologies available for the luxury pickup include:

• BLIS with cross-traffic alert
• A panoramic vista roof
• Power-deployable running boards
• Quad-beam LED headlamps
• Remote start and tailgate release
• An integrated brake controller
• A lane-keeping system, 360-degree camera system and dynamic trailer hitch assist (these make up an optional package)

The 2016 F-150 Limited’s interior can’t overlooked, with vogue design elements like:

• A laser-engraved VIN plate with a production number visible on the center console lid
• Unique floor mats
• A distinct instrument cluster face
• Fiddleback eucalyptus wood and aluminum trimming
• Special scuff plates with ice blue backlighting

You also get great performance with the 2016 F-150 Limited, which gets an EPA-estimated 20 miles per gallon after a combined 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. And don’t let the image of luxury fool you– the Limited can tow over 10,000 pounds with a powertrain that pumps 365 horsepower and 420 pounds per foot of torque, which no other pickup in the Limited’s class is capable of.

We understand a luxury pickup like the 2016 F-150 Limited isn’t for everyone, but if you’re like us then you know how exciting it is when New Ford Cars or New Ford Trucks are unveiled. Pass the days between now and when the new Limited is released this winter and check out the inventory at our Washington, IL, area Ford dealership.

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

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Ford Makes Carbon Fiber Wheels with Space Shuttle Technology

PEKIN, Illi.– We’ve sent men to the moon, calculated Earth’s orbit, and even taken pictures of Pluto, but who ever thought all of that science could be applied to a car?

Now that Ford makes carbon fiber wheels with Space Shuttle technology for its Shelby® GT350R Mustang, you’ll soon learn how useful this knowledge can be on the road. Many auto parts companies already produce aftermarket carbon fiber wheels, but Ford will be the first automaker to mass-produce a wheel of this caliber.

Ford took special care to design a carbon fiber wheel able to endure harsh elements and even the occasional curb or pothole. The wheel is made a pre-made structure of carbon fiber strands woven together, and after an RFID chip tracked by Ford’s quality assurance system is inserted into the wheel, it’s infused with resin and cured at high heat.

The Space Shuttle technology plays in when Ford coats the wheels with a ceramic plasma arc spray originally intended for the Space Shuttle. The coating gives Ford’s carbon fiber wheels a layer of thermal protection that keeps brake heat from doing any damage.

Ford makes carbon fiber wheels with Space Shuttle technology, but its own development and testing has a large part in the functionality of the wheels. It isn’t news that Ford puts all of its wheels through vigorous tests that cover curb strikes, UV and chemical exposure, and high temperatures, and the GT350R’s carbon fiber wheels get the same brutal treatment before they’re approved.

The difference between Ford’s carbon fiber wheels and typical aluminum wheels is the level of durability and support. Its carbon fiber wheels are stiffer, lighter and more resilient, and give the GT350R better suspension response times, chassis performance, weight reduction and overall handling.

As much as we wish Ford’s carbon fiber wheels could be used on any vehicle, they’re intended for a high-performance track-ready vehicle like the Shelby GT350R Mustang, the most intense pony car manufactured today that is obviously in need of some above-average wheels that can take the heat.

Perhaps one day you’ll see Ford mass-producing carbon fiber wheels with Space Shuttle technology for more typical everyday vehicles, but for now– unless you intend to purchase a Shelby GT350R Mustang– you might have to settle with one of the New Ford Trucks or New Ford Cars for sale at our Ford Dealer serving Washington, IL. And don’t worry, these vehicles might not have the bite that a GT350R has, but they’re definitely just as dependable, even without carbon fiber wheels.

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

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Ford Makes Teens Safer Drivers with Driving Skills for Life

PEKIN, Illi.– American auto companies produce the majority of the vehicles we drive in the U.S., and, therefore, have an obligation to produce safe vehicles like the 5-Star Safety Rating 2015 Ford Edge.

However, Ford makes teens safer drivers with Driving Skills for Life summer camp not as an obligation, but because they want to see younger drivers avoid accidents, injuries and potential fatality.

Ford’s DSFL summer camp gives teens a deeper education they typically don’t get in your average driver’s education course by showing teens how you can handle your vehicle on slick terrain or how you can avoid a messy accident with an object or animal in the road. Ford also shows teens how hazardous driving under the influence can be by giving them the opportunity experience simulated impairment with goggles and a special suit.

By partnering with the Governors Highway Safety Association, Ford’s DSFL will host 1,500 teens and their parents at the free summer camp, which is touring across six states starting in Fargo, N.D., on July 7, and moving through Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming into the month of August. Each stop will include four half-day sessions that cover vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed management and space management.

Considering teen drivers are three times more likely than experienced drivers to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident, according to the CDC, Ford makes teens safer drivers with Driving Skills for Life by teaching them safer driving habits. The six states DSFL is touring through are ranked highest for high school teens ages 16 years or older who drink and drive, which places them at higher risk of being lumped into the CDC’s startling statistics on teen driving behavior that leads to death.

This time of the year also happens to be when teen driving accidents peak, so it makes sense why Ford would schedule DSFL to take place over the next month or so. Ford also wants teens’ parents to come out, too, because even experienced drivers need some recapping, and it never hurts to get an objective perspective on how you’re driving.

Although DSFL won’t be coming through our neck of the woods, we’re glad Ford is taking time to teach young drivers how to master the road and be safe. When it comes to safety, we trust Ford vehicles. That’s why we sell New Ford Cars and New Ford Trucks at our Washington, IL, Ford 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