Mitsubishi has plenty to be happy about for 2011.  Overall, sales of vehicle models made by the automaker are very high.  Let’s find out exactly what this means for consumers and for those who sell these models.

It was reported early this month that Mitsubishi’s market shares are showing sales figures up 20% versus the numbers reported last year at this time.  This means that the automaker has seen 13 months of growth, consecutively.  The company also has analysts that look at the overall growth of the company.  This is an area that is also seeing a big increase.  From the period of Jan 1, 2011 through the end of September, a little over 65K models have been sold, resulting in a 60% increase.  These numbers are beating some other popular auto manufacturers.  Mitsubishi thanks many of it’s great models for this success.

Mitsubishi Lancer

One model that has gotten some press and big endorsements from popular auto publications is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XI.  For 2012, it is set to get some big updates, such as better fuel economy thanks to advanced engine design.  It is also reported to be getting a very sleek design, similar to some of the luxury sports car models you might see on the market today.  It is due to arrive at U.S. dealerships, possibly your Normal Mitsubishi dealer, sometime in 2012. 

Outlander Sport continues to be a big hit

The Outlander Sport, which we have a large inventory of now, continues to be a big player in Mitsubishi’s sales and growth figures.  There are many fantastic reasons to check out this fine model.  A big bonus is the roomy feel that you get, both for passengers and cargo, but with a smaller size as compared to bulkier large SUV’s.  Like the Springfield, IL Mitsubishi Lancer, it is also a more fuel efficient auto to own.  It starts out at a very affordable price, with some base models starting under $20K.  Of course, the more features you opt for will change this, but you are able to customize your Outlander in many different ways!

Those of us here at O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal look forward to finishing the year strong!

We are only a couple of months away from debuting the all new “i” that Mitsubishi is highly anticipating.  It is set to roll out to dealerships sometime in November.  Over the course of this year, we’ve been bringing you some information on why going the electric vehicle route might be a great option.

With the cost of gas remaining high in many areas, a lot of people you know might agree that they are cutting back when it comes to driving, or being more mindful of driving practices that help conserve gas use, as well as overall wear and tear on your car, which can also cut into an automotive budget.  Switching to a vehicle like the EV “i” might be a wise investment over the course of several years if you consider many different factors.

Price

One big factor in moving to an electric vehicle, especially if you are new to this type of auto, is the cost.  Can I afford it?  Will the cost justify itself in the long run?  These are just a few of the many questions we know you probably have.  The staff at your Normal Mitsubishi dealer are here to help with any questions or concerns you might have. 

We’d like you to know that the Mitsubishi ‘i’ is the most affordable “mass-market electric car” that you’ll be able to test drive and purchase very soon.  The MSRP for an entry level ‘i’ will run you around $21,625 after the federal tax credit comes into play.  If you opt for the premium SE trim, you see a cost of around $23,625, again, after the tax credit is figured in.  The current figure for the federal tax credit on EV vehicles is at $7500.  To find out more about this new car price, Bloomington IL area drivers can contact O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal. 

The ‘i’ is a car with a lot of potential that we are excited to offer.  Stay tuned for even more details that are sure to come up closer to its release later this Fall.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse, which you can currently find at our store, has been a solid choice amongst car buyers since it’s release back in 1989.  For a driver who is looking for a reliable sporty car at a nice price, the Eclipse is one that should definitely be considered. 

We’ve brought you several posts about all that the 2012 Eclipse has to offer, as well as other information you as a consumer might be interested in.  Adding to the buzz around a great car is the news that the last built Eclipse is going to help contribute to those in need.  In case you are not aware, the Eclipse is set to end a 22 year run.  It has been a very successful car for Mitsubishi, but now they are changing things around a bit to focus on some other models, including some new ones with electric powertrains.

Auction Information

One of the last models of the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Springfield residents can find today in several trims, is going to be auctioned off on Sept 17th to help fund the Japanese Red Cross Earthquake relief fund.  Millions of people are still in need of many necessities after the devastating earthquakes hit the country earlier this year.  The proceeds from the auction will likely go to someone very deserving of aid.

Mecum Auctions, a company auction attendees might be familiar with, is running the event on September 17th at a resort in St. Charles, IL. It will be auctioned off at approximately 1:55 p.m. and has many fabulous features including the following:

• Kalpana Black exterior paint color
• Only coupe to be built in a SE trim
• 18-inch wheels
• Leather interior
• Sunroof
• High quality stereo system
• Bluetooth
• Rearview Camera- a very handy safety feature
• HID headlights  

Definitely sounds like a car that a lucky winner would love to go home with!  It is being estimated that the Eclipse might go for over or around $30K? 

For more information on the Eclipse, contact your Normal Mitsubishi dealer today, O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal .

Last month we outlined some more specifics on the pricing for the upcoming Mitsubishi ‘i’, an all new electric car.  We’d like to pass on to you that this hot little auto will be ready to go here at the store in November.  There is a lot of press focusing on the ‘i’ and for good reason, such as the ones we’ve outlined in other posts and will be bringing to you as its local debut gets closer.  Your Normal Mitsubishi dealer is set to have charging stations set up and ready to go, so you can see how they work.

As you may or may not know, there are different ways of charging up the ‘i’.  If you opt to plug it into your home electric plugs, you’ll be at home for awhile.  Doing it this way will take 22.5 hours to go from a low battery to a full charge.  Don’t let this be your excuse for running late to work! 

Bumping up to a Level 2 station, your charging time goes down to 6 hours.  If you plug it in right when you get home from work around 6 p.m., it’ll be ready for you to drive by the time you leave the next morning.  The Level 2 system is made by Eaton and is a 240V capacity.  This is where extra fees come in to purchase it, have it installed, and have your garage inspected to make sure it can accommodate the station.

Level 3 stations are the kind you will eventually see at local businesses and in other public places.  Imagine stopping by Target to do some shopping.  At this same point you are running on extremely low battery.  If the lot has the public stations put in, you can plug your car in and after 30 minutes it’ll be at 80%.  This might end up being enough to get you around Bloomington-Normal to finish up errands and meet your friend for lunch.

Your Mitsubishi dealer, Springfield, IL residents can easily visit as well, is excited to be involved in this next wave of car buying.  Electric vehicles are a wave of the future we simply cannot ignore!

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.

Mitsubishi has released a new concept car at the Tokyo auto show with some incredible new technology. The concept PX-MiEV boasts a range of developments from changing between front and four-wheel drive due to conditions to an alertness monitor that produces an odor to warn drivers to pay attention to the road. Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is an automobile many, including Normal Mitsubishi dealer, await with great anticipation.

The PX-MiEV is a plug-in hybrid crossover with two electric motors and as well as a gasoline engine. This automobile’s battery system also has the capability to be programmed to force power back to your home rather than draining from it. While this is still a concept car it is not too early to ask your Normal car dealer for information about these new developments.

The interior details of the PX-MiEV are so revolutionary drivers are almost certain not to be concerned by the conservative exterior. Features include a humidifier and oxygen regulator, anti-aging UV-A-filtering window glass, and odor and bacteria deactivating seat upholstery. It seems this automobile practically cleans itself if not eliminates the need to be cleaned entirely. While Normal used cars have seen nothing of this quality of interior accessories before, vendors are confident these features will be incredibly useful to consumers.

These innovative qualities developed by Mitsubishi may be seen by some as creature comforts, yet no one can argue with the benefits of the 117 mile per gallon fuel economy of which the PX-MiEV is said to be capable. Once it moves beyond the concept stage you can check out the PX-MiEV at your Normal Mitsubishi dealer.

Mitsubishi not only develops technology to benefit the environment as well as the economy, we also address the comfort and quality of our customers’ experiences. The concept PX-MiEV demonstrates our company’s innovative capability as well as our dedication to Mitsubishi car owners.

Mitsubishi has gained the reputation of having one of the sportier lineups on the road, and local Mitsubishi dealer, O’Brien Team Normal has gained quite the reputation along with it.  The Bloomington IL Eclipse began to gain real fame about a decade back, followed by the Galant, Outlander, Endeavor and now the Lancer continues to increase in popularity. Heightening the sporty appeal of the Lancer, comes the 2010 Lancer Sportback.

The 2010 Lancer Sportback packs a whole lot of punch for its low sticker price of $19,190. It’s practical, convenient hatchback styling, only available in the two upper trims- GTS and Ralliart- reveals more cargo space than the typical trunk design of the standard Lancer with 52.7 cubic feet. The 2010 also betters in handling, overall performance strength and a generous list of available high-tech equipment.

Though there aren’t significant differences between the two trims, some are important to mention. The GTS trim comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, 2.4-L 4-cylinder engine producing 168 hp and 167 lb/ft of torque, a sport-tuned suspension, tilt-only steering wheel, keyless entry, trip computer, sport bucket front seats, Bluetooth and a six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo, to name a few. The Sportback Ralliart adds a turbocharged engine with 237 hp, an automated dual-clutch manual transmission, and an even more aggressively tuned suspension.

The 4-door Sportback has entertaining available upgrades as well. Drivers can include the Sun & Sound package which is exactly what it sounds like- a little more sun with a sunroof and a little more sound with a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system and an in-dash six-CD changer and satellite radio. The optional navigation system features a 30GB hard drive, while the Ralliart’s Recaro Sport package includes namesake sport seats and the Rockford Fosgate audio system.

In terms of safety, the Lancer Sportback ranks pretty high. It received 5-stars for driver safety and 4 for passengers. It’s built with front-seat side airbags, a driver knee airbag, full-length head curtain airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and stability control.

Visit your Normal Mitsubishi dealer, O’Brien Mitsubishi, to test-drive the all-new 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and get a feel for its improved handling and performance. Or if you’d rather put less pressure on your pockets, come check out a Normal used Mitsubishi Lancer and drive off in your new racy ride.

Mitsubishi is stepping up its game in the next year to help boost its sales and target the desires of potential car buyers. To do this, they’ve chose to focus on the booming business of fuel- efficient vehicles, specifically hybrids- both electric and plug-ins- and overall smaller vehicles.

One of the upcoming additions to the Mitsubishi lineup is a slight alteration to the standard crossover vehicle, the Outlander. This time they’ve added a word in its name that brings a whole new element of driving to the mind of car buyers: “Sport”. This Outlander Sport model is set to hit the U.S. market- while simultaneously being sold worldwide- in the fall of 2010.

Not many details have been released about these changes coming to the standard Outlander that you can currently find at your Bloomington car dealer but we can only assume they’re going to speed up the performance, literally, and possibly take up less space on the road with a more aerodynamic design. Sounds similar to the concept cX model released in 2007, huh? Sure does- and we’re pretty sure that’s the sole inspiration for this new Sport.

Though we don’t know much about this new Mitsubishi that will be arriving at local Bloomington car dealerships in 2010, we know a few things. The new Sport is to be built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan. In addition, it will be powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, with drivers being able to choose between front or all-wheel drive. In my experience test driving cars at Bloomington, IL car dealers, I’ve learned that nothing is quite so satisfying as a compact, peppy SUV on a car frame. The bumps become afterthoughts, while the storage space and big-vehicle capability remain.

Refreshing our knowledge of the current Outlander that I’ve test driven at Bloomington IL new car dealerships, only assuming the Sport will up the ante, we can first focus on the safety features. First, to show off, the Outlander was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This reassuring title is attributed to its extensive passenger protection: dual-stage front SRS airbags, front seat mounted airbags and back front and side- curtain airbags. In addition, the Outlander comes equipped with standard ABS (anti-lock brakes), ASC (Active Stability Control) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). These fancy names make it sound real safe, right?

The current Outlander, seating 5-7 passengers, achieves a 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway average. We’re hoping the Sport does improve on this sector, as their goal is to perfect the fuel-efficient side of their vehicle production.

All we can do is wait. It’s going to be a long year until we’re able to see how Mitsubishi will surprise us with the birth of one of its most popular model’s fraternal twins. Until then, come into to your local Normal Mitsubishi dealer, O’Brien Mitsubishi, and test-drive any of the new or used models. See you next fall Outlander Sport!