You’ve been putting it off for as long as you can, but that time has come for you to shop for a new auto.  Maybe it’s been awhile and you aren’t sure where to start.  That’s okay, you are not alone.  There are many things to consider when making the choice to buy or lease a new auto.  We’d like to give you some things to think about to hopefully make your next purchase as stress free and enjoyable as possible.

1. Take advantage of your computer or other handheld device:  The internet’s presence in today’s society is simply unavoidable in many cases.  What is great in the case of auto buying is that Internet research enables you to head into a dealership ready and knowledgeable about what you want and don’t want in a vehicle.  Another great suggestion is to establish an online rapport with a sales staff.  Many sites enable you to do live chat, etc and then when you head to our store, you’ll already have someone you feel at ease working with.
2. What do you need?:  Take some time to figure out what kind of auto you really need.  Make a list of the attributes and features that you find desirable, along with those that are essential for everyday travels.  Figure out those that you can live without, especially if you are staying within stricter financial parameters. 
3. Test driving matters:  Many of us may not think about this, but your test drive behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi model sold at your favorite Bloomington car dealership should mimic your normal driving conditions as much as possible.  If you typically do most of your driving on open country roads, take the auto there….If most of your travels will be in more stop and go traffic, see how it operates in that setting.
4. For more tips and suggestions on how to find the perfect auto, whether you prefer new or used cars for sale, Normal IL residents can trust O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal sales staff to help with the total auto buying experience.  Stop by our store for more details!

Several months ago we previewed information about the electric “i” model Mitsubishi is planning to roll out to drivers here in the United States as a 2012 model.  With gas prices rumored to possibly hit the $5/gallon mark, people will be anxious to find electric cars and other hybrids that will not only save them money on gas, but will also be reliable and user-friendly, making everyday driving a pleasant experience.

U.S versus other markets

Mitsubishi has already rolled out a form of ”i” in markets outside the U.S such as Japan and parts of Europe.  As you know, the needs of drivers vary across the world and can be affected by some of these variables:

• Population
• Road Size
• Rural and City Driving

In Japan, the population is so large and dense that smaller, electric cars are more the norm versus an up and coming trend we see here in the states.   Commuters there rely on them to maneuver very busy streets, park adequately, and so much more.  Residents in that country don’t have to worry about freeway driving very much, if at all.

However, here in the U.S., most all drivers have to consider driving on freeway systems, where the speeds and driving abilities differ in comparison to busier side streets in cities and larger communities.  Therefore, the U.S bound car will have some different dimensions versus the “i” used solely in stop and go traffic in other parts of the world.

• Longer wheelbase
• Approximately 5 inches wider, to accommodate freeway driving similar to the way the Springfield Mitsubishi Galant allows travelers to maneuver Interstate 55, 74, and more with ease!
• Wider Tires- a must for safe driving on any type of roadway
• More Interior space

It is good news to hear that the automaker is acknowledging these factors before releasing and taking orders for the ‘i’ (contact your local Bloomington car dealership, O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal, for more information).  It will make the car more marketable, as well as safe and user-friendly.

Mitsubishi will also be adjusting the charging capabilities here in the U.S, making 8-amp charging available, instead of the 15 amp that is common in Japan.  Future ’i’ owners here will need to have the 240-volt charging station available to decrease charging times.

Mitsubishi has been working very hard to freshen up it’s line-up of already fabulous models.  The 2012 iMiev is not only set to roll out soon, but it’s also being tested and marketed to the public right here in Bloomington-Normal.  Those of us here at your Bloomington car dealership for new and used Mitsubishi models couldn’t be more excited to share in this.

By 2015, Mitsubishi is planning to roll out a total of eight plug-in hybrid and electric cars.  They are focusing on smaller, less gas consuming, city-type cars that could rival the likes of some of the current environmentally friendly autos some big auto giants are releasing.  2015 is several years away, but time goes by fast and these models will be here before we know it.

What are we going to see?

In order to focus planning, research, and engineering around the plug-ins and electric cars, Mitsubishi will be ending the production of some of their American made cars.  They want to focus on cars produced on a smaller platform versus that of the Mitsubishi Endeavor Normal IL residents can test drive today at O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal.   Instead, by making electric and hybrid cars based on autos such as the Lancer and Outlander, they feel they’ll be more successful in the long run.   Another positive spin on the 2015 release plans is the fact that some or all of these plug-in/hybrid cars might be made right here in the U.S?  When and where that will be has not been set in stone yet.

More information will be available as model names and information come to light, but they are saying that an electric powered city car and a van are in the plans to be included as part of the new lineup of eight models.  A van that’s less reliant on gasoline might be a big hit with families or those who need large space for other items.  A city car would be great for anyone who needs easier access to an urban area’s parking, streets, and establishments.

We are very curious and excited to see what Mitsubishi has in store over the next few years!

If you follow our blog or the car industry in general, you’ve most likely heard about the growing popularity of electric vehicles.  Several auto makers have already launched models in several parts of the U.S. and Mitsubishi is right in the mix.  The iMiev is Mitsubishi’s next states-bound electric car that will be tested right here in Bloomington-Normal.  Those of us employed at your preferred Bloomington car dealership are thrilled that this environmentally friendly auto will have local exposure.

Mitsubishi, which has a local manufacturing center right here in Normal, will be teaming up with the Bloomington-Normal EV Task force to educate the community and gain support of electric vehicles in general.  The town will be supplied with a large quantity of iMiev’s that local businesses will be able to test drive.  The task force, which is made up of various leaders in the community, will be spotlighting the “i’s” at big events throughout the year.  Moreover, the town of Normal is working with a maker of charging stations to have them installed throughout the city over the course of 2011.

Mitsubishi has in part been able to make this EV venture possible by forming a partnership with the State of Illinois, as seen in the signing of a memorandum between the auto maker and our state governor.  The state is committed to making electric vehicle education possible through research, grants, and more.  With the community home to a major university, it’s a very good possibility that some ISU students and staff could work with this program as well?  Stayed turned for more information.

The plan is to have Bloomington-Normal turn into a leading “EVtown” where its residents will appreciate these autos and have more knowledge about the importance of helping the environment while behind the wheel.  Once this is achieved, they’ll be eager to check out the energy saving iMiev when they roll out in large quantity by 2014.  It’s a very good possibility you’ll be able to see one at your Normal Mitsubishi dealer, O’Brien Mitusibishi of Normal, when they officially go on sale in a few years time.

A local Bloomington car dealership, O’Brien Normal, has an updated model of a car that has been known for its sleek style and reliability for a long time now: the Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe.  At a base price of $24,498, the Eclipse offers a fun, sporty coupe with a decent engine and great safety features for an affordable price.  This is a great vehicle for those on the go who value a little bit of style to their ride.

The 2011 Eclipse GS Coupe is slightly lower to the ground than its predecessors.  The vehicle sports 18-inch alloy Goodyear Eagle all-season rubber wheels with ten-spokes.  Additionally, dual exhausts have been added to the latest model.  As always, the tail end of the Eclipse is curvalicious.  Slightly heavy but definitely eye-catching, the best way to describe it is with the phrase “junk in the trunk.”  But hey, some people go for that.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe sports a modest four-cylinder engine that offers the driver 162-horsepower.  Thus, this isn’t you’re most powerful coupe, but it isn’t the worst either.  Rather, the car provides the right amount of get-up, at a great price.  Also, Mitsubishi has stuck with a hydraulic steering system, which, in my opinion, provides for more driver control.

At the Bloomington car dealership, I was able to take a glace at the interior of the vehicle.  The seats are fabric, but have the luxury of heat – a must have in Bloomington in the winter.  Manual climate control helps maintain your body’s temperature, while an auxiliary audio jack entertains your eardrums.  Finally, cruise control, electronic traction and stability control make your road trip a breeze.

If the 2011 model is a bit out of your price range, the dealership is also a great place to find a used car.  Bloomington, IL is centrally located and therefore, convenient for many nearby residents.  The recent models of the Eclipse are very similar to the 2011 model, and are available for a fraction of the price, thanks to their status of used car.  Bloomington, IL residents must act fast, however – these vehicles won’t stay on the lot for long!

Whether on the market for a new or used car, Bloomington, IL drivers will likely have two determining factors in common: fuel efficiency and cost. Mitsubishi is acknowledging to emphasis that U.S. car buyers are placing on fuel economy and cost and will accordingly bring their eco-friendly, affordable i-MiEV to the states. But before the hybrid car will make its debut at your local Bloomington car dealership, the automaker will make some changes to the cars that have already hit Japan and Europe markets.

The i-MiEV is expected to hit your Bloomington car dealership late in 2011 and will likely retain its electric motor and lithium ion batteries power train. One upgrade that Bloomington drivers will see is a larger i-MiEV. While American consumers tend to have a preference for larger vehicles, Mitsubishi commented that the larger body is a necessity to meet U.S. crash regulations.

The vehicle’s interior will also be upgraded to include a greater number of standard features. Existing features include climate control, electric windows, a stereo a many others come standard. Among the features that the Americanized i-MiEV will add are cruise control, Bluetooth, a navigation system and satellite radio.

The highly anticipated i-MiEV has garnered attention due to its revolutionary quick charging system which distinguishes it from other hybrid vehicles. The system allows the vehicle to obtain an 80% charge in a mere 30 minutes, eliminating drivers worry about the limited drive range of other hybrids. Currently, drivers in Japan can visit one of 200 charging stations to ‘fuel’ their i-MiEVs. U.S. drivers can stop at one of the estimated 150 – 250 charging stations that will be built when they are on the go or can charge the can from the convenience of their home.

In addition to the money that Bloomington drivers could save at the gas pump with the i-MiEV, it is expected to wear a price tag that will give other hybrid auto manufacturers a run for their money. The i-MiEV will likely start at just $30,000, which comes to a super affordable $22,500 after the electric vehicle federal tax credit is deducted.

Let’s get it bigger and better. Americans aren’t big fans for the small and compact. Sure the Mini is cute, but do you actually know anyone who drives one? This world is on the go. Who has the time to stop at a gas station? I want plug and play and I want it now.

The new Mitsubishi i-Miev is the Japanese auto maker’s newest all electric car. Plug the baby in at night and drive through the day. That is until the battery runs out of juice, but that’s not important right now. What is important is that while the new model car is to be unveiled in Paris soon, a different model will eventually hit our shores.

America has a larger than life lifestyle compared to the crowded European cities or the even smaller and more crowded streets of Asia. Here in our country we have wide open spaces and room to run. This is the main reason you see so many pick up trucks. Our larger than life vehicles do very well when in crashes, but the major concern is what happens with a one ton pick up truck hits something like the new i-Miev? Nothing good I can assure you.

Once Mitsubishi has the new model ready we should see the first ones hitting car shows across the country. In the meantime, built right here in town, Mitsubishi is a common site. Bloomington, IL used cars are brought onto the lot of O’brien Mitsubishi at the corner of Veterans and Fort Jesse, and the Bloomington car dealership helps you roll off the lot with more style than you arrived.

My neighbor has a sweet Mitsubishi convertible and works over at the factory. My friend works at the dealership, and I’ve asked them both when the new electric car will make its appearance. The great answer I got was sometime late next year. I have put so many miles on my still new car that I worry I’ll never make the payoff date. With all the money I’ve spent in gas I’d be done already. I think I’m coming up with a plan.

Your Bloomington, IL Mitsubishi Lancer dealership hopes to gain previous Subaru customers with Mitsubishi’s latest version of the Lancer – the Sportback.  The car, officially dubbed the Ralliart Sportback, hit the lots earlier this year.  Thanks to its similarities to the popular Subaru WRX, Bloomington car dealership O’Brien Normal hopes the car may earn the automaker some new customers.

The sportback sports five doors, meaning the trunk opens like a normal door – leaving lots of room to load and unload whatever your imagination desires (assuming you’re imagination is about the size of the Sportback).  This new feature makes the Lancer extremely versatile for lots of different lifestyles – a possibly attracting feature for those who value the WRX for its cargo space.  In fact, switching to the Ralliart Sportback gains you 3 cubic feet of space, giving you more times to say to your children “sure, we’ve got room for that!”

Aesthetically speaking, the Lancer looks a lot like the eye-catching Mitsubishi Evolution.   The car is slightly slimmer than its older counterpart and has a less aggressive looking front grille, but still maintains that chic charm that is so popular among Evo fans.  Inside, the car has been spared no expense with a soft, plush leather steering wheel and gear shifter, as well as metallic magnesium used whenever fitting.  Such attention to detail is what matters to true car buffs, as your Bloomington, IL Mitsubishi Lancer dealer has come to realize.

Thanks to its desire to be as much of a “sports car” as possible, don’t expect to get great fuel economy in the new Ralliart Sportback.  The EPA estimates a decent 17 miles-per-gallon city fuel economy and 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway.  However, those that drive the car how it’s supposed to be driven (which, note, isn’t necessarily always within legal boundaries) can expect to see those numbers in the high teens, max.

But the Bloomington car dealership can point out to customers that what they may give up in fuel economy, they gain in handling.  The car has an excellent response time and a smooth ride.  In addition, the stylish car is an affordable $31,000.  So if you’re an avid Subaru WRX fan, give yourself a chance to improve your satisfaction – take the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback for a spin.  I doubt you’ll feel it was a waste of time.

The DVD made its debut in 1997 and by the time the majority of us adapted our media centers to conform to the latest in consumer electronics, out came Blu-Ray. This constantly changing technology industry can have the latest and greatest gadget obsolete before you even have time to get accustomed to it. Accordingly, there still remains a distinct few who ignore modern day technologies and preserve their dependence in VCRs, beepers, walkmen and typewriters. And who can blame them when it seems to be only a matter of time before Blu-Ray discs will seem as antiquated as cassette tapes.

But the latest technological advances that vehicles will endure will be hard to surpass and will likely transform technology abstainers to electronics junkies. The Continental Corporation in Germany, one of the leaders in automotive technologies, has shared some of the latest advances in technology that will be offered on vehicles at your local Bloomington car dealership in the near future.

Vehicles can best benefit from the technological advances that improve safety, much like Emergency Steer Assist (ESA). Similar to an emergency brake system that some vehicles have, ESA is a precautionary measure that will influence your steering in a potential accident to avoid a collision. In the event that a vehicle is past the point of using brakes to prevent a collision, it is still possible for the driver to avoid the accident through steering. Based on steering input from the driver and sensors that a vehicle would be fitted with to monitor the road, ESA would be able to assist drivers make a decision to veer right or left to dodge an impact. According to the Continental Corporation, ESA is in advanced development and residents of Normal, IL can expect the integration of ESA into vehicles in the next two to four years.

Another technological advance that will improve a vehicle’s safety is the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal (AFFP). The AFFP will identify a potential accident or hazardous situation by working in conjunction with a vehicle’s safety systems and produce a tactile response, which studies have shown drivers to be more responsive to as opposed to visual or auditory alerts. The AFFP will alert the driver of potential danger with a faint, double tick and will also exert opposing pressure on the pedal if a driver accelerates too quickly. These features of the AFFP will not only improve safety, but will also contribute to a more fuel efficient driving style.

The Android-based AutoLinQ is Continental’s latest innovation that will allow drivers to access their information, entertainment and communication systems from the convenience of their vehicle. Although portable accessibility systems are nothing new to your used car Bloomington IL dealers, the AutoLinQ will be one of the first solutions to enhance vehicle safety as opposed to merely providing entertainment. Normal, IL drivers know that state laws forbids composing, sending or reading an electronic message while operating a vehicle, but the AutoLinQ will make communicating while driving possible with the ability to transcribe written text to an auditory message and vice versa.

The Intelligent Tire System/Fill Assist is a system that gets integrated into a vehicle’s tire to monitor varying factors that affect a driver’s tires. The system will notify drivers of the tire’s ideal pressure levels for a particular load and filling assistance features will alert drivers when a tire’s air pressure is too low. The system is still in early stages of development but will eventually contribute to reduced carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the rolling resistance of tires. The Intelligent Tire System ultimately reduces tire wear, enhances safety and promotes better fuel efficiency.

Continental’s Simplify Your Drive is another concept that local Bloomington car dealerships will eventually offer. The concept will allow drivers to opt from various driving modes and will transform the vehicle into the driver’s chosen identity with the push of a button. Although vehicles currently at your used car Bloomington IL dealer offer various drive modes, the Simplify Your Drive approach presents a visual transformation that is as exciting as the actual performance transformation. If a driver were to opt to drive in sport mode, round virtual gauges would appear on the vehicle’s dash which would become illuminated in a sporty red ambience. A drive in eco mode will be indicated by green surroundings and a four leaf clover on the dash which would signify eco-conscious driving behaviors.

I was something around fifteen when the representatives of Games Workshop came over from England to help this little hobby shop I hung out it throw a convention. Gavin Thorpe was the really cool guy. He was the brainchild behind some of the best table top games since their original hit Warhammer. The reason I remember these guys is because they had the coolest title ever. These guys were the official Outriders of Games Workshop.

Their job was to travel the free world and promote their products. What a cool name! My job now is business strategist. It’s so unimpressive I didn’t even capitalize it did I? Outriders were the cream of the gaming world crop. I wanted to grow up and be an Outrider so bad at the time it makes me laugh.

The more thought I put into it I think I just wanted to live in England. The problem would have been if I ever made to the top and became an Outrider I would never be home. I would just hop planes and roam the world talking to people and never be home.

Now the closest I come to being and Outrider is owning a Mitsubishi Outlander. Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to see the world, but the world thru an airplane window probably wouldn’t have looked quite as sweet as it does thru the windshield of my CUV. Living in Bloomington, car dealership options lead me to the one place I knew I would get what I wanted.

The great thing about O’brien Mitsubishi was I could take them my old car and get my new one with far fewer problems than anyone else. In Bloomington, IL used car trading can be a little iffy sometimes. That’s why when I heard O’brien started up their used car depot that I wouldn’t have to worry when I got rid of mine. I’ve met Gremore a few times so I went up there to see him. He gave me a great price on my old Mitsubishi and helped me drive off the lot with a new Outlander the same day.