We mentioned in the Mitsubishi i in two of our previous blog posts due to its fantastic fuel economy and marketing campaign, but now we have even more good news about the vehicle. It's true, the experts at Mitsubishi are experts for a reason; they know when it's time to roll out a new product to have it successfully compete in the market. That's why the company has decided to move up the release of its 2013 Mitsubishi i by a full six months to better compete with other auto brands' electric vehicles. The original rollout of the i was scheduled for December 2012, but will now happen by July, according to the company's President, Osamu Masuko.

The 2012 i was originally known as the i-MiEV, and it began shipping to some markets on the West coast in November 2011, with the first retail sales beginning in December 2012. The price was slightly raised to $29,125 right before the launch (about an $1,100 increase), but this Mitsubishi remains the more affordable mainstream EV on the market. The i's biggest competition will come from the Nissan Leaf and Ford's Focus EV. A Honda Fit EV will also hit in summer 2012. These vehicles have nothing on the Mitsubishi i, however. It was recently rated the most efficient 2012 vehicle by the EPA, which gave it numbers of 126 MPGe in the city, 99 MPGe on the highway, and 112 MPGe combined. Real-world electric range should hit around 62 miles. Another EV, derived from the Mitsubishi Mirage subcompact is expected to appear in 2013.

If you'd like to learn more about the new Mitsubishi i, including details about its 8-year, 100,000-mile limited battery warranty, feel free to contact Bill Penney Mitsubishi online, or to stop by and see us at 4808 University Dr. NW Huntsville, AL 35816.