When hybrid and electric vehicles were made possible by automobile manufacturers, this huge step in technology opened many doors for car companies. The question now is, will electric vehicles become a hit among consumers? Will sales be as successful as competing gasoline-engine models? Or will they sit in the lots of dealerships like the Bloomington, IL car dealers?

Shoppers searching for used cars in Bloomington, IL may not be as interested in new electric vehicles as other consumers are. This is the issue that car companies face. In an economy like this, many people are not willing to spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle that they are unfamiliar with – let alone one with completely different technology and construction than what they are used to. That’s where Deloitte Consulting comes in. The organization released results of a consumer survey on electric and hybrid vehicles, which revealed some details on such concerns. Consumers interested in purchasing an electric vehicle should visit Bloomington, IL car dealers for more information.

According to the survey results, Deloitte Consulting expects sales of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to approach 0.5% of the U.S. market share by 2015, and reach as high as 2.0-5.6% by the year 2020 – about 285,000-840,000 vehicles. However, the estimated number of electric vehicles to be sold (not including hybrid plug-ins) varies, depending on which consultant, critic, analyst, etc. Personally, I would love to one day own an electric vehicle – I just simply do not have the funds to purchase any new vehicle at this time. While I understand consumers’ hesitance to purchase an electric car, the rising gas prices may help shoppers come to a decision sooner rather than later. Owners of used cars in Bloomington, IL should visit their local dealer to learn the benefits of owning an electric vehicle.

The most challenging question among such analyzers is how rapidly – or gradually – this new breakthrough will catch on. Deloitte Consultant Rebecca Ranish feels that this progress requires the automotive industry to move quickly to electrification, including more investment on infrastructure (i.e. public charging stations at offices and parking lots). “The telephone, the radio, the refrigerator were all reliant on infrastructure to support adoption and in some cases may have been slowed by infrastructure. Electric vehicles will have a similar series of challenges.” Nevertheless, car companies are undoubtedly aware of this obstacle. Consumers will just have to wait to see if accommodations will be made to ensure that the purchase of an electric vehicle is worth the trouble.

The new Mitsubishi’s ASX has pulled down three-and-a-half times the hoped-for monthly sales in the first four weeks on the market in Japan, but is it enough for worldwide success? We’ll soon find out when the model makes its way to the US.

Tax breaks, plus the ASX’s manageable size and just-right equipment level are universal ways to connect with buyers anywhere, and was what probably contributed to its initial success. The ASX represents the brand’s move towards on-road crossovers, a move inspired by research showing that buyers of its Outlander big brother cross-shopped D-segment sedans rather than midsized SUV/CUVs. North American buyers will get the ASX badged as the Outlander Sport. It’s not yet clear what the trim levels are going to be for the U.S. market, other than the understanding that Mitsubishi’s 2.0 liter MIVEC engine will be standard equipment. Stay tuned as the vehicle makes its way to your Bloomington car dealer.

The unveiling of this smart-looking ASX crossover at the New York auto show is one of Mitsubishi’s ways to celebrate its 140th birthday this year. The ASX is the production version of the CX concept debuted in Frankfurt a couple of years ago, and it’ll reach British roads this summer with the express intention of muscling in on Nissan Qashqai territory. The car seats five and is available in both front- and four-wheel drive. There’s also plenty of green tech on board. There’s a new 148bhp 1.8-litre diesel, which gets stop-start and brake regeneration technology as standard and – in front-wheel drive form – returns 145g/km of CO2. The 1.6-litre petrol manages 135g/km. See your Bloomington car dealer for more.

And while you’re waiting for the ASX to reach your town, check out the Bloomington IL used cars selection at your local dealer. Take a look at featured vehicles like the i MiEV, 2010 Endeavor, 2010 Galant, 2011 Lancer, 2010 Eclipse Spyder, Honda CR-V, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Fusion, GMC Sierra, and more. And now at your Bloomington car dealer get 23% off a new Mitsubishi during the month of April for their 23rd Anniversary sale. Come on down and test-drive a vehicle today!

Back in early December it was announced at the Tokyo Motor Show that Mitsubishi finally was going to bring the Colt back over to the States. For months we were left wondering if the subcompact car, long-popular in other parts of the country because of its sweet body and tiny frame, would be headed our way, but now longtime fans of one of Mitsubishi’s smallest vehicles can rejoice. The Colt is coming.

And what a time to come. Small cars are a hit with the buying public right now—not only are they easy to park, easy to drive, and easy on gas usage, but they’re also trendy—so much so that Ford and Mazda have plans to bring over small cars soon as well. Any Bloomington car dealer peddling Mitsubishis will have done very well in the last couple of years with the Outlander, Lancer, and EVO, but some other vehicles have been a little more challenging to move. In Normal, used cars like the Eclipse and Galant have struggled, and the Colt is expected to remedy some of those down sales.

Many already are lauding the move as a huge step in the right direction for Mitsubishi, but the even more interesting tidbit about the re-introduction of the Colt to the States is the fact that it’s not the current Colt that’s being brought over. Instead, Mitsubishi is planning on bringing over a new-and-improved version of the car for American sensibilities.

This new car is, in fact, even smaller than the Colt driving all over Japanese and European roads right now. Instead of a 1.6-liter engine, the new Colt is expected to have a 1.0-to-1.3-liter engine, and other minor changes and upgrades are expected as well. Either a hybrid or plug-in, all-electric version of the car is being planned for 2013, but Mitsubishi doesn’t know which of those two options they’ll pursue just yet. Whatever it is it’ll be with future American fuel economy standards in mind.

While it’s unlikely that the new Colt will do much for Bloomington, IL used cars, the upcoming crops of new Mitsubishi vehicles will certainly be further bolstered by the release of this new subcompact automobile headed our way. Consumers get what consumers want, and small vehicles are what consumers want right now. Mitsubishi has proven that it’s more than happy to oblige.