So there I was at the junkyard, sniffing out components for my next project, when I spied this... this really cool thing in a Mitsubishi Montero. A fully mechanical, self-contained inclinometer, all full of gimbals and balancers and general goodness! What the heck, I figured, and paid $5 for it. Now it sits on my desk, beckoning me: build something with me! But what? – Murilee Martin

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Despite the fact that we know there's only so many signals our key fobs can use to transmit codes to our car for commands like "lock", "unlock" and "alarm", we're still kind of weirded out when we encounter through random chance, a vehicle sharing said signal. We guess we shouldn't be too surprised because as we were once told, after an overanxious valet locked the RFID key fob in the trunk of the Corvette it belonged to, that "there's only about fifty or so combinations between the keys and this specific vehicle." Plus, given Mitsubishi and DaimlerChrysler once had a "sharing is caring" relationship, we're under the assumption that maybe our fob shared some kind of doohickey or something with the Montero sitting next to our car. Still, what the hell are the odds of this happening? – Ray Wert

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Mitsubishi's sending its facelifted Pajero SUV across the transom at the Paris show later this month, and hey, it looks exactly like the shots in that Japanese magazine we saw last month. Shocking. Read the press release after the jump.

Press Release:

Tokyo, September 8, 2006 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is to give the new global standard SUV Pajero* (European market specification) its world debut at Le Mondial de l'Automobile 2006 (Paris Motor Show 2006) to be held in Halls 1-8 of the Paris Expo porte de Versailles from September 28 (September 30 for the general public) through October 15.

More than 2.5 million Pajeros have been produced in the approximately 25 years since the first generation was launched in 1982. Sold in over 170 countries and regions today, Pajero has earned enormous popularity as a sport utility vehicle boasting outstanding durability and endurance that enable it to deliver safe, secure and comfortable performance over any and all types of road surface.

Debuting at the Paris Motor Show, this Pajero is the fourth in the series. The latest Pajero offers reliability forged in the crucible of grueling competition and use under the harshest conditions to be found on our planet. It retains the all-round SUV specifications of its predecessor, as seen in its approach angle, ground clearance and other all-terrain performance parameters. New features that distinguish the fourth-generation Pajero include:

* A powertrain applied a new 3.2-liter 4-cylinder diesel with common rail direct fuel injection or a 3.8-liter V6 MIVEC*1 gasoline unit.
* A 4WD system comprised of the sophisticated Super Select 4WD-II transfer case while both ASTC*2 and the rear differential lock available — developed on the bedrock of MMC's All-Wheel-Control (AWC) concept and delivering significant improvements in both off-road and tarmac performance.
* Tastefully designed dashboard and interior complemented by high-end equipment such as Rockford Acoustic Design Premium Sound System with a new 860W 12-speaker.

This latest Pajero is to be produced at Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. MMC plans to start shipments to Europe in September, followed by shipments in Japan and to Australia in October. Eventually the company plans to export the car to some 170 countries and regions in the Near & Middle East, Central and South America, and Asia and ASEAN regions.

Debuting alongside at the Paris Motor Show will be the similarly-styled next generation of Pajero Evolution which will be entered at the 2007 Dakar Rally.

MMC will hold its press & media briefing at 2:30 pm on Thursday September 28 at the Mitsubishi Motors stand in Hall 3.

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The View from Japan: New Mitsubishi Pajero? [internal]